mountain of problems

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mountain of problems" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large number of difficulties or issues that someone is facing. Example: "After the project was launched, we quickly found ourselves facing a mountain of problems that needed to be addressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

A mountain of problems... Jennifer Lawrence, centre, in Winter's Bone.

The Guardian - Film

"He has a mountain of problems ahead of him and a big mess to clear up".

The New York Times

The country remains volatile, and faces a mountain of problems, but finally I can take away some happier memories.

Independent

Such a deal would help the company gain more financial capacity and time to tackle its mountain of problems.

The New York Times

He faces a mountain of problems, including rampant inflation, diminishing revenues and foreign reserves, possible food shortages and new United States sanctions over the country's nuclear program.

The New York Times

It's worth remembering that the standardized testing system pioneered by Bush, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, collapsed under a mountain of problems.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Imagine a modern day Matthew Broderick from WarGames (1983) who correctly intuits a covert government strategy to liquidate foreign ambassadors or heads of state via proxies and then warns how such molehill practices have on prior occasions caused mountains of problems.

Stanford University

"But he has to face mountains of problems, pyramids of people with influence, centers of power which will lose their interests or which feel threatened that they may be prosecuted if reforms move ahead". Even loyal members of the Baath Party acknowledge the situation.

Los Angeles Times

But it comes on top of a mountain of other problems.

The Economist

In this state, every tiny obstacle becomes a mountain of a problem, every person an irritant to be done with so I can move onto something more important.

Huffington Post

What they hadn't realized in those celebrations at the end of the coding phase is that they were actually sitting on top of a mountain of unresolved quality problems.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and purpose. While "mountain of problems" is acceptable, more formal contexts may benefit from alternatives like "a complex web of issues".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "mountain of problems" repeatedly within a short span. Vary your language with synonyms like "host of difficulties" or "plethora of issues" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mountain of problems" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. It describes a substantial accumulation of difficulties. Ludwig confirms its acceptability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mountain of problems" is a noun phrase used to describe a large number of difficulties. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in news and media, science, and business contexts. While effective, overuse can diminish its impact, and writers should consider alternatives like "host of difficulties" or "complex web of issues" to maintain variety and engagement. While the phrase is classified as valid and correct, its usage remains relatively uncommon compared to other similar expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

host of difficulties

Replaces "mountain" with "host", softening the visual metaphor while retaining the sense of numerous difficulties.

plethora of issues

Uses "plethora" to denote abundance, focusing on the variety and excess of problems.

sea of troubles

Shifts the metaphor to a "sea", implying being overwhelmed by troubles, similar to a vast, insurmountable quantity.

laundry list of challenges

Presents a more structured and itemized view of challenges, like a "laundry list", rather than an overwhelming mass.

series of setbacks

Focuses on the sequential nature of problems as setbacks, rather than their collective mass.

parade of horribles

Emphasizes the unpleasant and alarming nature of the problems, suggesting a continuous and disturbing display.

litany of woes

Highlights the sorrowful and lamentable aspect of the problems, presenting them as a series of complaints.

complex web of issues

Implies interconnected and complicated problems rather than simply many problems.

a number of predicaments

Replaces the metaphor with a more direct and slightly understated expression of multiple difficult situations.

a can of worms

Indicates that tackling the problems will lead to even more complications and difficulties.

FAQs

What does "mountain of problems" mean?

The phrase "mountain of problems" describes a large number of difficulties, challenges, or issues. It suggests that the problems are overwhelming and difficult to overcome.

What can I say instead of "mountain of problems"?

You can use alternatives like "host of difficulties", "plethora of issues", or "sea of troubles" depending on the context.

Is "mountain of problems" a cliché?

While "mountain of problems" is a fairly common expression, it's not necessarily a cliché if used appropriately. However, overuse can diminish its impact. Consider alternatives to add variety to your writing. For example, a "complex web of issues".

How can I use "mountain of problems" in a sentence?

You can use "mountain of problems" to describe a situation where someone or something faces numerous challenges. For example, "The new CEO inherited a mountain of problems from the previous administration."