adding to their troubles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'adding to their troubles' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which somebody faces an additional difficulty in addition to the issues they are already facing. For example: "The family had already been struggling financially, when the father became ill, adding to their troubles even further."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The urban poor face many difficulties, but too much fast food and not enough fresh produce only add to their troubles.

The New York Times

After a semester of being yelled at by Julissa and her peers, Bennet had begun to see them more clearly, and to see as well that, in his ardor to save them, he had managed to add to their troubles.

The New Yorker

But Brighton's frantic late push proved fruitless and Barnes's red card only added to their troubles.

BBC

To add to their troubles, my experience is that most couples opting for divorces -- whether early or late in life -- fail to foresee that their breakups require them to deal with many complex financial problems in today's troubled economic times, and they have competing interests.

Huffington Post

But adding to their roadblocks, technical troubles interfered with the showing of the tape.

Science Magazine

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

The New York Times

This in turn is forcing businesses to pare down, adding to job troubles.

Forbes

Now, inconveniently, this industry's global woes are adding to Israel's troubles.

The Economist

Barnsley won at Elland Road for the first time since 1990 with one of their best performances of the season to add to Leeds' troubles at home.

BBC

Malnutrition had added to her troubles.

The Guardian - Books

Before long, recession would add to its troubles.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the emotional impact of the situation you're describing. This phrase is best used when discussing events that cause real hardship or difficulty for people.

Common error

While "adding to their troubles" is a useful phrase, avoid using it repeatedly in the same piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "exacerbating their problems" or "compounding their difficulties" to keep your writing engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adding to their troubles" functions as a verb phrase that describes the action of making an existing difficult situation worse. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used. The examples illustrate its application across various contexts, emphasizing its descriptive role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "adding to their troubles" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression that describes the act of worsening an already difficult situation. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is readily applicable in various contexts, predominantly within news and media, and maintains a neutral register. Common synonyms include "exacerbating their problems" and "compounding their difficulties". When using this phrase, avoid over-repetition and consider the emotional weight of the situation you are describing. Its frequent occurrence in reputable sources and its clear, consistent meaning make it a reliable choice for conveying the intensification of existing hardships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exacerbating their problems

Focuses on worsening existing problems rather than simply adding to them.

compounding their difficulties

Emphasizes the accumulation of difficulties, making the situation more complex.

worsening their plight

Highlights the unfortunate condition they are in and how it deteriorates.

aggravating their situation

Stresses making a bad situation even more severe or intense.

inflaming their woes

Uses a more vivid and emotional term to describe intensifying their suffering.

heaping more burdens on them

Emphasizes the addition of new burdens on top of existing ones.

making matters worse for them

A more general and direct way of saying that things are deteriorating.

further complicating their lives

Highlights the increase in complexity and difficulty in their lives.

piling on the adversity

Suggests an accumulation of unfortunate events and hardship.

contributing to their hardship

Focuses on the contribution to difficult conditions or suffering.

FAQs

How can I use "adding to their troubles" in a sentence?

You can use "adding to their troubles" to describe a situation where something makes an already difficult situation even worse. For example, "The company's financial difficulties were compounded by the pandemic, "adding to their troubles" significantly".

What are some alternative phrases for "adding to their troubles"?

Some alternatives include "exacerbating their problems", "compounding their difficulties", or "worsening their plight", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "adding to their troubles" formal or informal?

"Adding to their troubles" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The key is to ensure that the surrounding language and tone are appropriate for your audience.

What is the difference between "adding to their troubles" and "adding insult to injury"?

"Adding to their troubles" means making an existing problem worse, while "adding insult to injury" refers to making someone feel even more humiliated or offended after they have already suffered a setback. The former is about practical difficulties, while the latter focuses on emotional distress.