run into trouble

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "run into trouble" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe when someone experiences difficulty or an obstacle to their plans or goals. For example: "The construction project ran into trouble when they couldn't find the right parts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Taliban Run Into Trouble on Battlefield, but Money Flows Just the Same". The New York Times.

Stanford University

Where did you run into trouble?

The New York Times

Since then, SpinVox has run into trouble.

The New York Times - Tech

"And that's where you run into trouble".

The New York Times

Other African leaders have run into trouble.

The New York Times

That operation has run into trouble.

The New York Times

"You can run into trouble real fast".

The New York Times

Or, rather, we don't run into trouble.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even Sun has run into trouble of late.

The Economist

Arizona has run into trouble policing language in the past.

The New York Times

And even then, their work can run into trouble.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "run into trouble" to describe unexpected problems or difficulties encountered during a process or activity. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "run into trouble" is widely understood, consider using more formal alternatives like "encounter difficulties" or "experience setbacks" in professional or academic writing to maintain a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "run into trouble" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a clause. It describes the experience of encountering problems or difficulties. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Academia

17%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "run into trouble" is a common and grammatically correct idiomatic phrase used to describe encountering problems or difficulties. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted and suitable for various contexts, primarily appearing in news and media, academic, and formal business settings. While it's a versatile phrase, consider using more formal alternatives like "encounter difficulties" in professional writing. When aiming for clarity and directness, "run into trouble" effectively conveys the experience of facing unexpected challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encounter difficulties

Focuses on the act of meeting or facing problems.

face problems

Emphasizes the confrontation with existing issues.

experience difficulties

Highlights the personal impact of the troubles.

get into difficulty

Suggests entering a state of trouble or hardship.

find oneself in a bind

Indicates being in a restrictive or problematic situation.

meet with adversity

Focuses on facing unfavorable circumstances or misfortune.

land in hot water

Implies getting into trouble that may involve punishment or criticism.

face a setback

Highlights a temporary halt or reversal in progress.

be beset by problems

Suggests being persistently troubled or harassed by issues.

come up against obstacles

Emphasizes the presence of barriers hindering progress.

FAQs

How can I use "run into trouble" in a sentence?

You can use "run into trouble" to describe encountering problems or difficulties, such as "The project "ran into trouble" when funding was delayed".

What are some alternatives to "run into trouble"?

Alternatives include phrases like "encounter difficulties", "face problems", or "experience difficulties", depending on the context.

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

"Ran into trouble" is the past tense form of the phrase and is perfectly correct when referring to a past event. "Run into trouble" is used for present or general statements.

What's the difference between "run into trouble" and "face difficulties"?

"Run into trouble" often implies an unexpected or unforeseen problem, while "face difficulties" suggests a more deliberate confrontation with known challenges.