Difficulty - Troublemaking

Explore English idioms that relate to troublemaking, including "cross the bear" and "recipe for disaster".

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apple of discord [phrase]

a thing that is the source of a trouble, particularly by making people argue over it

Ex: The decision to implement a new dress code policy became the apple of discord among employees , with some arguing it was necessary for professionalism while others felt it restricted their individuality .

to [dig] {oneself} into a hole [phrase]

to do something that gets oneself stuck into a difficulty

Ex: By repeatedly lying to his friends , he dug himself into a hole of mistrust and alienation , making it difficult to rebuild those relationships .

recipe for disaster [phrase]

something that most likely results in great problems

Ex: Failing to communicate effectively and provide clear instructions to the team is a recipe for disaster in any collaborative project .

to [rock] the boat [phrase]

to provoke problems with something that one does or says

Ex: The new employee was afraid of rocking the boat when they started the job .

can of worms [phrase]

something that when someone tries to deal with it causes many problems

Ex: The decision to renovate the old building seemed simple at first , but it quickly turned into a can of worms when structural issues and historical preservation concerns arose .

the fat [is] in the fire [sentence]

said when an action has inevitable consequences

Ex:

hornet's nest [phrase]

a situation that is very difficult or unpleasant to be in, often because people are really angry or upset over something

Ex: The decision to implement drastic budget cuts in the education sector has stirred a hornet 's nest among teachers , parents , and students , who are protesting against the detrimental impact on education quality .

[cross] to bear [phrase]

a difficult situation that one cannot change or escape from

Ex:

more kicks than halfpence [phrase]

a situation in which a person is subjected to more trouble instead of a positive outcome

Ex: Growing up in a troubled neighborhood and enduring constant bullying , Mark has received more kicks than halfpence throughout his childhood .

through the mill [phrase]

in a situation that is extremely difficult to go through

Ex: After losing his job , going through a divorce , and facing a serious illness , Tom feels like he has been through the mill in the past year .

(shit|stuff) [hit] the fan [sentence]

used for stating that a lot of problems and arguments will occur when someone becomes aware of something

Ex: After years of neglect , the building 's structural issues became evident during a heavy storm , and the shit hit the fan as sections of the roof collapsed .

bane of {one's} (life|existence) [phrase]

a person or thing that brings one misfortune or unhappiness

Ex: The never-ending paperwork and bureaucracy at work are the bane of my existence ; it hinders my productivity and adds unnecessary stress .

the fat [hit] the fire [sentence]

used to describe a situation that was already bad has suddenly become worse

Ex: Mary thought her argument with her friend was just a minor disagreement , but when she discovered her friend had been spreading rumors about her , the fat hit the fire , and their friendship was irreparably damaged .

to [spell] (trouble|danger) [phrase]

to indicate or suggest that a situation or action is likely to lead to problems

Ex: I fear that the broken fence spells trouble for our pet rabbits .

Difficulty
Hard Tasks	Difficult Challenges	Causing Difficulty	Troublemaking
Adding Complexity	Experiencing Difficulties	Facing Unpleasantness	Easy Tasks
Without Effort	Acceptance & Relief	Means & Solutions