troubles at hand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "troubles at hand" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to problems or difficulties that are currently present or need to be addressed. Example: "With the recent changes in management, we have several troubles at hand that need immediate attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But for many, the old debate about whether this is a recession has become purely academic, and eclipsed by the troubles at hand.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The advantage of a phone call or a drop-by over e-mail is clearly greatest when there is trouble at hand.

The New York Times

Merle declined to get specific about the trouble at hand, saying that "there's too many people hurt already," but he made plain his desire to continue to stay the hell out of Tennessee as much as possible.

The New Yorker

He was born in Hayle, Cornwall, to parents who ran a small construction firm, and soon after his family moved to Portadown, Co Armagh where he experienced the Troubles at first hand while being educated at Portadown college.

The Guardian

True, economic troubles may be at hand.

The New York Times

"In this case, there is a clear violation of federal law," said Tom Daschle, the Senate Democratic leader of South Dakota, trying to draw a distinction between former President Bill Clinton's troubles and the situation at hand.

The New York Times

Trouble may already be at hand: inflation is creeping up and unemployment hovers stubbornly at 12percentt, mostly young people and heavily concentrated in the relatively backward south.

The New York Times - Magazine

"This morning, I was having trouble focussing on the task at hand.

The New Yorker

Without my dick, my ability to work would be hindered because I wouldn't be able to have sex with co-workers as a bargaining tool and just generally have trouble concentrating on the task at hand because I'm lacking sex.

Vice

With a new service called Google Scholar (scholar.google.com), a one-stop shop of scholarly abstracts, books, peer-reviewed papers and technical papers intended for academics and scientists, articles he has had trouble finding may now be close at hand.

The New York Times - Tech

The oceanic whitetip is a competitive, opportunistic predator that exploits the resource at hand, rather than avoiding trouble in favour of a possibly easier future meal.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "troubles at hand" when you want to emphasize that the problems are current and require immediate attention. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "troubles at hand" to describe long-term, historical issues. This phrase is best suited for difficulties that are presently occurring or imminently requiring resolution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "troubles at hand" functions as a noun phrase that typically refers to problems or difficulties that are currently present or need to be addressed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "troubles at hand" is a grammatically correct phrase used to denote current problems or difficulties requiring immediate attention. Ludwig AI validates its usability and naturalness in English writing. While not extremely common, it appears in diverse contexts, mainly in news and media, fitting within a neutral register. For alternative phrasing, consider using "current difficulties" or "present problems" to convey a similar meaning. Remember, this phrase is best suited for difficulties presently occurring or imminently requiring resolution and as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

current difficulties

Focuses on the difficulties being experienced at the present time.

present problems

Highlights the problems that are currently existing.

immediate issues

Emphasizes the urgency and need for immediate attention.

pressing concerns

Stresses the importance and urgency of the issues.

existing challenges

Refers to the challenges that are currently in place.

current crises

Highlights the critical nature of the current problems.

immediate predicaments

Emphasizes difficult or unpleasant situations that are occurring now.

on hand problems

Problems that are readily available or present.

at the moment issues

Issues currently being faced or addressed.

top of mind challenges

Challenges that are most important or require immediate attention.

FAQs

How can I use "troubles at hand" in a sentence?

You can use "troubles at hand" to refer to current problems or difficulties that need to be addressed. For example, "With the recent economic downturn, we have several "troubles at hand" that need immediate attention."

What are some alternatives to "troubles at hand"?

Some alternatives to "troubles at hand" include "current difficulties", "present problems", or "immediate issues".

When is it appropriate to use "troubles at hand"?

It's appropriate to use "troubles at hand" when you want to emphasize that the problems are current and require immediate attention. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Is "troubles at hand" the same as "issues at stake"?

While both phrases refer to problems, "troubles at hand" emphasizes the immediacy and current nature of the problems, while "issues at stake" refers more broadly to matters that are important and could be affected by a decision or action.