ran into trouble

USAGE SUMMARY

"ran into trouble" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe encountered difficulties or obstacles, for example: "The project ran into trouble when the budget ran out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This ran into trouble.

Independent

And then it ran into trouble.

The New Yorker

This week it ran into trouble.

The Economist

But AFA Foods soon ran into trouble.

The New York Times

I ran into trouble almost immediately.

The Guardian - Film

That is when he ran into trouble.

The New York Times

Shockingly, this plan ran into trouble.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the model soon ran into trouble.

The New York Times - Science

That was when they ran into trouble.

The New Yorker

And the economy ran into trouble.

The New York Times

The Saic effort ran into trouble.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ran into trouble" to describe situations where unexpected difficulties arise, ensuring the context clearly indicates what caused the trouble.

Common error

Avoid using "ran into trouble" repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your language with synonyms like "encountered difficulties" or "faced obstacles" for better readability and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ran into trouble" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a clause. It describes the action of encountering problems or difficulties. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ran into trouble" is a versatile and frequently used phrase to describe the experience of encountering difficulties or problems. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and appropriate for a variety of contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "encountered difficulties" or "experienced problems" exist, this phrase is generally suitable for most situations. Remember to avoid overuse and ensure the context clearly explains the nature of the "trouble".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encountered difficulties

Uses a more formal term, "encountered", and specifies "difficulties" instead of the broader "trouble".

experienced problems

Replaces "trouble" with the more direct term "problems".

faced obstacles

Implies confrontation with specific "obstacles" hindering progress.

met with adversity

Suggests a more significant and challenging experience than simply "trouble".

hit a snag

A more informal way of saying "ran into trouble", implying a minor setback.

found itself in a predicament

Indicates a difficult or unpleasant situation, possibly more complex than simple trouble.

stumbled upon a hurdle

Suggests a sudden and unexpected obstacle.

was beset by complications

Implies multiple and intertwined problems causing difficulty.

had a setback

Focuses on the negative impact on progress due to the trouble.

suffered a reversal

Highlights a change to an opposite direction due to the trouble.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "ran into trouble"?

Saying someone "ran into trouble" means they encountered difficulties, problems, or obstacles, often unexpectedly.

What can I say instead of "ran into trouble"?

You can use alternatives like "encountered difficulties", "experienced problems", or "faced obstacles" depending on the context.

How formal is the phrase "ran into trouble"?

"Ran into trouble" is generally considered a neutral phrase suitable for both informal and semi-formal contexts. More formal situations might warrant alternatives like "encountered difficulties".

Is it correct to say "run into trouble" instead of "ran into trouble"?

Both are correct, but their usage depends on the tense. "Run into trouble" is used in the present tense or with modal verbs (e.g., "They might run into trouble"), while "ran into trouble" is used in the past tense.