14 PHRASE If you say that someone or something is more trouble than they are worth , you mean that they cause you a lot of problems or take a lot of time and effort and you do not achieve or gain very much in return. □ Some grumbled that Johnson was more trouble than he was worth. COLLOCATIONS trouble NOUN
1
adjective + trouble : deep, real, serious; financial, marital
verb + trouble : cause, invite, spell, strike
5
verb + trouble : foment, make, spark, stir up; avoid, prevent
trou|bled /trʌ b ə ld/
1 ADJ Someone who is troubled is worried because they have problems. □ Rose sounded deeply troubled.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A troubled place, situation, organization, or time has many problems or conflicts. □ There is much we can do to help this troubled country.
trou ble-free ADJ Something that is trouble-free does not cause any problems or difficulties. □ The carnival got off to a virtually trouble-free start with only one arrest.
trouble|maker /trʌ b ə lme I kə r / (troublemakers ) N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a troublemaker , you mean that they cause unpleasantness, quarrels, or fights, especially by encouraging people to oppose authority. [DISAPPROVAL ]
trouble|shooter /trʌ b ə lʃuːtə r / (troubleshooters ) also trouble-shooter N‑COUNT A troubleshooter is a person whose job is to solve major problems or difficulties that occur in a company or government.
trouble|shooting /trʌ b ə lʃuːt I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Troubleshooting is the activity or process of solving major problems or difficulties that occur in a company or government.
trou|ble|some /trʌ b ə lsəm/
1 ADJ You use troublesome to describe something or someone that causes annoying problems or difficulties. □ He needed surgery to cure a troublesome back injury.
2 ADJ A troublesome situation or issue is full of complicated problems or difficulties. □ The economy has become a troublesome issue for the Government.
trou |ble spot (trouble spots ) also trouble-spot N‑COUNT A trouble spot is a country or an area of a country where there is repeated fighting between two or more groups of people.
trough /trɒ f, [AM ] trɔː f/ (troughs )
1 N‑COUNT A trough is a long narrow container from which farm animals drink or eat.
2 N‑COUNT A trough is a low area between two big waves on the sea. □ [+ between ] The boat rolled heavily in the troughs between the waves.
3 N‑COUNT A trough is a low point in a process that has regular high and low points, for example a period in business when people do not produce as much as usual. □ [+ in ] Looking back afterwards you will see that this was not a terminal trough in your career.
4 N‑COUNT A trough of low pressure is a long narrow area of low air pressure between two areas of higher pressure. [TECHNICAL ]
trounce /traʊ ns/ (trounces , trouncing , trounced ) VERB If you trounce someone in a competition or contest, you defeat them easily or by a large score. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] His team were trounced by Arsenal last Tuesday.
troupe /truː p/ (troupes ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] A troupe is a group of actors, singers, or dancers who work together and often travel around together, performing in different places. □ [+ of ] …troupes of travelling actors.
troup|er /truː pə r / (troupers ) N‑COUNT You can refer to an actor or other performer as a trouper , especially when you want to suggest that they have a lot of experience and can deal with difficult situations in a professional way. □ Like the old trouper he is, he timed his entry to perfection.
trou|ser /traʊ zə r / (trousers , trousering , trousered ) VERB If you say that someone trousers a sum of money, you mean that they receive it, usually when they do not deserve it or should not take it. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V n] Ex-ministers are trousering £25,000 in fees simply for going to a few board meetings.
trou|sers /traʊ zə r z/ The form trouser is used as a modifier. 1 N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Trousers are a piece of clothing that you wear over your body from the waist downwards, and that cover each leg separately. [mainly BRIT ] □ He was smartly dressed in a shirt, dark trousers and boots. □ Alexander rolled up his trouser legs. in AM, usually use pants 2 to wear the trousers → see wear USAGE trousers
Don’t talk about ‘
trou |ser suit (trouser suits ) N‑COUNT A trouser suit is women's clothing consisting of a pair of trousers and a jacket which are made from the same material. [BRIT ] in AM, use pantsuit , pants suit
trous|seau /truː soʊ/ (trousseaux ) N‑COUNT A trousseau is a collection of clothes and other possessions that a bride brings with her when she gets married. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
trout /traʊ t/ (trout or trouts ) N‑VAR A trout is a fairly large fish that lives in rivers and streams. ● N‑UNCOUNT Trout is this fish eaten as food.
trove /troʊ v/ → see treasure trove
trow|el /traʊ əl/ (trowels )
1 N‑COUNT A trowel is a small garden tool which you use for digging small holes or removing weeds.