leave the problem

USAGE SUMMARY

"leave the problem" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to stop thinking or worrying about a problem and let it be. Example: After hours of trying to come up with a solution, I decided to leave the problem and go for a walk. When I came back, I had a fresh perspective and was able to find a solution much more easily.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

"To leave the problem of the Middle East to Arafat and Sharon alone, you will get nowhere," he said.

The New York Times

Although it can be very boring process, I want astronomers to leave the problem to statisticians instead of using inappropriate test statistics and making creative interpretation of statistics.

Harvard University

"Unless we demonstrate a strong commitment to fiscal sustainability," Mr Bernanke remarked, "we risk having neither financial stability nor durable economic growth".Mr Obama knows all this: he promises repeatedly not to leave the problem to his successors.

The Economist

Eleven other firms saw no reason to be precipitate - many felt that by the year 2000 either they or their businesses would be gone, and were willing to leave the problem to their successors.

The New Yorker

And getting the European Parliament involved in setting macroeconomic conditions is a recipe for paralysis.An alternative option might be to leave the problem entirely, or principally, in the hands of the IMF.

The Economist

Willingness to communicate and collaborate under uncertainty and interdependence.1 Why should employees seek help for a problem or help resolve a colleague's problem when they can leave the problem to later stages or hide behind their own task responsibilities?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Of course, in one way it's easier for those in government to say "pay your taxes and leave the problem-solving to us; don't worry about what's going on outside your front door because we'll sort everything out".

The Guardian - Opinion

Selling bad loans to third parties in the market for distressed debt would help banks, but would leave the problems of the corporate sector unresolved.

The Economist

And all leave the problems they purport to address sluggish productivity, poor communication, sagging morale, high turnover essentially untouched.

Forbes

In this work, we will solely focus on this problem and leave the problems of privacy protection and data leakage discovery to the literature [14, 20].

Brain Informatics

The problems came from us being there and when we leave, the problems will probably accelerate a bit.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "leave the problem" when you consciously decide to postpone addressing an issue, either temporarily or permanently. This is useful when you lack the resources or information to solve it immediately or decide that other things have more priority.

Common error

Don't use "leave the problem" as a default reaction. Ensure it's a calculated decision, not an avoidance tactic, as neglecting problems can lead to escalation and greater consequences later.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leave the problem" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a larger sentence. Ludwig AI affirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. The phrase indicates a decision to postpone, delegate, or otherwise temporarily set aside a particular issue or challenge.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Academia

13%

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "leave the problem" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase, as Ludwig AI confirms, indicating a conscious decision to postpone addressing an issue. This phrase is versatile, appearing in diverse contexts from news articles to academic discussions. While postponing an issue isn't always the optimal solution, it can be strategic when immediate resolution isn't possible or other priorities exist. Related phrases like "defer the problem" and "postpone the problem" offer similar, though slightly nuanced, alternatives. When choosing whether to "leave the problem", consider the potential consequences of delay and the availability of future resources to address it effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defer the problem

Emphasis on postponing dealing with the problem.

postpone the problem

Similar to defer, but with a stronger sense of putting it off until later.

shelve the problem

Suggests putting the problem aside, possibly indefinitely.

set aside the problem

Indicates temporarily ignoring the problem for other priorities.

pass the buck

Idiomatic expression for delegating responsibility for the problem to someone else.

delegate the problem

Formally assigning responsibility for the problem to another party.

table the problem

To suspend consideration of something.

disregard the problem

Intentionally ignoring the issue, whether temporarily or permanently.

abandon the problem

Completely giving up on finding a solution to the problem.

ignore the problem

Choosing not to acknowledge or address the issue.

FAQs

How can I use "leave the problem" in a sentence?

You can use "leave the problem" in a sentence to indicate a decision to postpone addressing a certain issue. For example: "After struggling with the coding error for hours, I decided to "leave the problem" and return to it with a fresh perspective later."

What's a less direct way to say "leave the problem"?

Alternatives to "leave the problem" include phrases such as "defer the problem", "postpone the problem", or "set aside the problem", which soften the impact and suggest a temporary rather than permanent abandonment.

Is "leave the problem" always a negative action?

No, "leave the problem" is not always negative. Sometimes, stepping away from a challenge allows for a fresh perspective or for new information to surface, which can ultimately aid in finding a solution. It depends on the context and intention behind the decision.

What's the difference between "ignore the problem" and "leave the problem"?

"Ignore the problem" implies a deliberate choice to not acknowledge or deal with an issue, potentially leading to negative consequences. On the other hand, "leave the problem" suggests a temporary pause or delegation, with the possibility of revisiting it later. The key difference is the intent and potential for future action.