add to the trouble

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "add to the trouble" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to make a situation more difficult or complicated. You can use it when discussing a problem or difficulty that is already present, and something else is making it worse. Example: The heavy rain and flooding have added to the trouble of an already struggling community. In this sentence, "added to the trouble" means that the heavy rain and flooding have made the situation even more difficult for the struggling community.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

To add to the trouble, the Dutch property market is in a slump.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

To add to the troubles, the national army only has three helicopters, one of which is currently defunct, to support Uruzgan and three other provinces.

The Guardian

Economists predicted that the woes of exporters would add to the troubles of an economy that plunged at an annual rate of 6.2percentt in the fourth quarter, the biggest drop in a quarter century.

The New York Times

It is possible that sickness absence sets negative social processes in motion and that these difficulties add to the troubles causing the sickness absence in the first place and challenges returning to and retaining work.

BMJ Open

The war in Iraq has only added to the troubles.

The New York Times - Travel

The judge's decision added to the troubles of the 2003 awards season.

The New York Times

Several of the experts said technological advances might be adding to the troubles.

The New York Times

The outcry has added to the troubles of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.

The New York Times

The insurgency in the province adds to the troubles of the federal government and the military, which has been fighting Taliban militants in the country's northwest.

The New York Times

We cannot have people like that adding to the troubles of the democratic Afghan government whom we, unlike the vast majority of Afghans, support.

The Guardian - Opinion

But economists worry that if the economy slows significantly in 2007, the number of poor and financially struggling households facing the potential loss of their homes could escalate sharply, adding to the troubles of the subprime industry.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "add to the trouble" when you want to clearly state that a new element is intensifying an existing difficulty. It's effective in both formal and informal contexts to highlight the worsening of a situation.

Common error

Avoid using "add to the trouble" in situations that are already highly dramatic or emotionally charged. Overuse can diminish the impact and sound repetitive. Opt for more nuanced language to convey the emotional weight effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "add to the trouble" functions as a verbal phrase that modifies a noun phrase, indicating a cause-and-effect relationship where something intensifies an existing difficulty. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "add to the trouble" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe how something intensifies an existing difficulty. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is versatile, fitting into various contexts but particularly prevalent in news and media. While alternatives like "exacerbate the difficulty" or "compound the problem" exist, the choice depends on the nuance you wish to convey. To use "add to the trouble" effectively, be mindful of overusing it in already dramatic situations and understand its subtle difference from similar phrases like "make matters worse". By understanding its function and communicative purpose, you can employ it precisely to highlight the worsening of a given situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make matters worse

Directly indicates that something is deteriorating the present condition.

exacerbate the difficulty

Focuses on worsening an existing difficult situation.

compound the problem

Highlights how something makes a problem more complex.

aggravate the situation

Emphasizes the worsening of a specific circumstance.

heighten the difficulty

Highlights the increase in intensity of a difficult situation.

intensify the problem

Focuses on making the problem stronger or more severe.

worsen the predicament

Emphasizes a deteriorating situation.

add fuel to the fire

Idiomatic expression indicating the escalation of an already heated situation.

augment the hardship

Emphasizes the increase in severity of an already challenging experience.

pour oil on troubled waters

Paradoxically used in a sarcastic manner to describe exacerbating a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "add to the trouble" in a sentence?

You can use "add to the trouble" to indicate that something is making an existing problem worse. For example, "The economic downturn only "added to the trouble" of small businesses struggling to stay afloat."

What are some alternatives to "add to the trouble"?

Some alternatives include "exacerbate the difficulty", "compound the problem", or "aggravate the situation". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "add to the troubles" instead of "add to the trouble"?

Both can be correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Add to the trouble" refers to a general difficulty or problem, while "add to the troubles" refers to a specific set of problems or difficulties. The choice depends on whether you're referring to a singular overarching issue or multiple distinct issues.

What's the difference between "add to the trouble" and "make matters worse"?

"Add to the trouble" specifically highlights how something intensifies an existing problem, whereas "make matters worse" is a more general expression that simply indicates a deterioration of a situation without necessarily specifying an existing trouble.