3 PHRASE If you are in difficulty or in difficulties , you are having a lot of problems. COLLOCATIONS difficulty NOUN
1
noun + difficulty : breathing, learning
adjective + difficulty : economic, financial, practical, technical; serious
verb + difficulty : encounter, face; overcome
2
adjective + difficulty : considerable, extreme
verb + difficulty : experience, find; cause SYNONYMS difficulty NOUN 1
complication: An added complication is the growing concern for the environment.
obstacle: To succeed, you must learn to overcome obstacles.
hitch: After some technical hitches the show finally got under way.
snag: There is a snag though, it costs £9,600 a year.
hurdle: The weather will be the biggest hurdle so I have to be ready.
dif|fi|dent /d I f I dənt/ ADJ Someone who is diffident is rather shy and does not enjoy talking about themselves or being noticed by other people. □ Helen was diffident and reserved. ● dif|fi|dence /d I f I dəns/ N‑UNCOUNT □ He entered the room with a certain diffidence. ● dif|fi|dent|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ 'Would you,' he asked diffidently, 'like to talk to me about it?'
dif|fuse (diffuses , diffusing , diffused ) The verb is pronounced /d I fjuː z/. The adjective is pronounced /d I fjuː s/. 1 VERB If something such as knowledge or information is diffused , or if it diffuses somewhere, it is made known over a wide area or to a lot of people. [WRITTEN ] □ [be V -ed] Over time, the technology is diffused and adopted by other countries. □ [V n] …an attempt to diffuse new ideas. □ [V prep] As agriculture developed, agricultural ideas diffused across Europe. ● dif|fu|sion /d I fjuː ʒ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the development and diffusion of ideas.
2 VERB To diffuse a feeling, especially an undesirable one, means to cause it to weaken and lose its power to affect people. □ [V n] The arrival of letters from the president did nothing to diffuse the tension.
3 VERB If something diffuses light, it causes the light to spread weakly in different directions. □ [V n] Diffusing a light also reduces its power.
4 VERB To diffuse or be diffused through something means to move and spread through it. □ [V prep] It allows nicotine to diffuse slowly and steadily into the bloodstream. □ [V n prep] Speakers that diffuse music into each room are hidden in the ceiling. [Also V , V n] ● dif|fu|sion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] There are data on the rates of diffusion of molecules.
5 ADJ Something that is diffuse is not directed towards one place or concentrated in one place but spread out over a large area. [WRITTEN ] □ …a diffuse community.
6 ADJ If you describe something as diffuse , you mean that it is vague and difficult to understand or explain. □ His writing is diffuse and it is difficult to make out what he is trying to say.
dig ◆◇◇ /d I g/ (digs , digging , dug )
1 VERB If people or animals dig , they make a hole in the ground or in a pile of earth, stones, or rubbish. □ [V ] They tried digging in a patch just below the cave. □ [V n] Dig a largish hole and bang the stake in first. □ [V + through ] Rescue workers are digging through the rubble in search of other victims. □ [V + for ] They dug for shellfish at low tide.
2 VERB If you dig into something such as a deep container, you put your hand in it to search for something. □ [V + into/in ] He dug into his coat pocket for his keys.
3 VERB If you dig one thing into another or if one thing digs into another, the first thing is pushed hard into the second, or presses hard into it. □ [V n + into ] She digs the serving spoon into the moussaka. □ [V + into ] He could feel the beads digging into his palm.
4 VERB If you dig into a subject or a store of information, you study it very carefully in order to discover or check facts. □ [V + into ] The enquiry dug deeper into the alleged financial misdeeds of his government. □ [V + into ] He has been digging into the local archives.
5 VERB If you dig yourself out of a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially one which you caused yourself, you manage to get out of it. □ [V pron-refl prep] He's taken these measures to try and dig himself out of a hole.
6 N‑COUNT [oft on N ] A dig is an organized activity in which people dig into the ground in order to discover ancient historical objects. □ He's an archaeologist and has been on a dig in Crete for the past year.
7 N‑COUNT If you have a dig at someone, you say something which is intended to make fun of them or upset them. □ [+ at ] She couldn't resist a dig at Dave after his unfortunate performance.
8 N‑COUNT If you give someone a dig in a part of their body, you push them with your finger or your elbow, usually as a warning or as a joke.
9 N‑PLURAL [oft in N ] If you live in digs , you live in a room in someone else's house and pay them rent. [BRIT , INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ] □ He went to London and lived in digs in Gloucester Road.
10 to dig one's heels in → see heel