69
Difficulties and dilemmas A
Nouns relating to difficulties Fairly small difficulties: a snag, a hitch, a glitch. Glitch usually refers to a technical problem of some kind; the other two words are more general. More important difficulties: A setback means that progress has been stopped by something. A stumbling block is something that prevents action or agreement. A pitfall is an unexpected difficulty (often used in the plural). An obstacle is anything that stops progress, either literally or metaphorically. An impediment is something that prevents free action, progress or movement. A dilemma is a situation where a difficult choice has to be made between two, sometimes unpleasant, alternatives. An ordeal is a severe experience, which is very difficult, painful or tiring.
B
Adjectives relating to difficulty adjective
meaning
collocations
problematic
full of problems or difficulties
relationship, situation, concept
abstruse
difficult to understand
theory, argument, philosopher
arduous
difficult, tiring, needing much effort
climb, task, journey
complex
difficult to understand as it has many parts
issue, problem, theory, process
convoluted
unreasonably long and hard to follow
explanation, sentences, theory
gruelling
extremely tiring and difficult
journey, work, match, expedition
insufferable
difficult to bear, as it is annoying or uncomfortable
behaviour, heat, boredom, pain, person
obstructive
causing deliberate difficulties
person, measure, behaviour
tough
difficult to deal with or do
time, job, climate, decision
traumatic
shocking and upsetting
experience, past, childhood
wayward
changeable, selfish and/or hard to control
behaviour, child, person
Common mistakes Difficulty is used in the singular in the expression to have difficulty in doing something: I had great difficulty in finding a job at first (NOT great difficulties).
C
Informal expressions relating to difficulties Oh dear, more homework! What a pain! / What a drag! [What a nuisance!] The software is good for editing still images, but editing video is a real chore. [boring job that has to be done]
What’s eating him? / What’s got into him? / What’s bugging him? / What’s (up) with him? [What’s the matter with him?]
I can’t face the hassle of moving house again. [situation causing trouble or difficulty] My daughter keeps hassling me for a new bike. [asking again and again] Having to listen to him singing is sheer torture! [used figuratively to refer to an unpleasant experience] to slog (your guts out) / to grind / to graft / to flog yourself to death [to work hard] in a fix / in a spot / in a hole / up against it / up to your neck [in a difficult situation] The company’s in a sticky/tricky situation now the workers are going to strike. [difficult] I think I’m off the hook / in the clear / out of the wood(s) now. [freed from a difficult situation] The downside of living here is the traffic thundering by. [the disadvantage of a situation] 144
English Vocabulary in Use Advanced
