can calculate fairly exactly how likely something is
+ of The probability oj catching the disease from your partner is extremely low. + that There is с 90% probability that the hurricane will hit the coast of Florida later today.
probably riot „protabli notlpru:--' Her
parents probably won't let her go. I I'll come and see you again, but probably not before Christmas. I "Do you think they'll offer you the job?" "Probably not."
El when something will probably not happen
unlikely mi laikli [adj] something that is
unlikely will probably not happen or is probably not true. She might let you borrow the car, but it's very unlikely. unlikely to do sth A small amount of the drug is unlikely to have any harmful effects.
it is unlikely (that) It is unlikely that anyone saw the attack.
doubt/ul /'daotfol [adj] very unlikely it is doubtful whether/that It seems
doubtful whether the terrorists will ever be found.
PROBLEM
see also deal with
II something that causes difficulties and must be dealt with
problem /'ргоЫэтЦ'рги:- [n CJ a bad situation that must be dealt with, because it is causing harm or inconvenience, or it is stopping you from doing what you want to do
big/serious problem Our biggest problem is lack of money. I Teenage crime is a serious problem.
have a problem If you have any problems, give me a call.
+ with Sue's had a lot of problems with her neighbours recently. cause/create problems The new traffic system is causing problems for everyone.
solve a problem (=find a way to deal with it) Scientists still have not solved the problem of what to do with nuclear waste.
the drug problem/crime problem etc a
new way of dealing with the drug problem
the problem of sth the problem of industrial pollution
A Don't say 'an important problem'. Say a serious problem or a big problem.
trouble tr\M |n Uj problems that someone or something is causing you, especially when this makes you worried or
annoyed
have trouble with sth We've had a lot of
trouble with our bank.
cause trouble She seems to cause trouble
wherever she goes.
have trouble doing sth (=when some thing is difficult and causes problems) We had a lot of trouble borrowing the money we needed.
A Don't say 'troubles' or 'a trouble'. Trouble is uncountable in this meaning.
diJFficulty/difficulties /difiblti. ditv
[л U/plural] problems that make it difficult to do what you want to do /ace/experience difficulty (=have difficult problems that you must deal with) Without more rain, the farmers will face serious difficulties. I Some parents experienced difficulty when they tried to move their children to other schools, run into difficulty/difficulties (=start to have difficulties, especially about money) The magazine ran into difficulties after only a few months.
be in difficulty/dijjiculties ^experiencing problems) Manchester United шоп easily, and they never seemed to be in any difficulty.
setback, ,setback [n CI something that happens which stops you making progress or which makes things worse than they were before
585
PROBLEM
have/suJFfer a setback The peace talks have suffered a series of setbacks. + /or This latest scandal is a major setback for the President's election campaign.
PROBLEM
snag /'siiceg/ [n С] a problem which seems small or not very serious, but which spoils your plans or causes you a lot of inconvenience: It's a great place for a vacation - the only snag is that it's full of mosquitoes.
hassle h<es<?l [n C/U] informal an annoying problem that causes a lot of work or inconvenience for you when you are trying to do something: the hassles of getting a visa
it's too much hassle (-there are too many things to do} I don't want to organize a big party - it's too much hassle.
Ed something wrong with a machine, system, plan etc
problem 'рп>Ыэт||'рго:- [n C] something
that stops a machine or system from working normally
have problems Please call 5326 if you have any computer problems. + with There seems to be some kind of problem with the cooling system.
trouble tr.\b<?i [л U] something wrong with a machine, car etc, especially when you do not know exactly what is causing it: engine trouble
+ with We've had trouble with the air- conditioning.
the trouble (=the specific thing causing the problem) I think we've found out what the trouble is. Jault /fait/ |n C] something wrong with one of the parts of a machine that prevents it from working + in / think there's a fault in one of the loudspeakers.
electrical/mechanical/technical /ault
The rocket launch was delayed because of a technical fault.
defect /'diifekt, di'fekt/ [n C] something wrong with a product or machine, caused by a mistake in the way it was made or designed: All the computers are checked for defects before they leave the factory. + in Investigators found a defect in the design of the ship.
flaw!weakness Ш:, wi:knJ,s/ (n C] something wrong with a plan or set of ideas, which may make the whole plan or set of ideas useless or ineffective
When you see БИ, go to the ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION section.
+ in There are several obvious flaws in his argument. I One major weakness in the study is that it is based on a very small sample.
El something that makes
you feel worried and
unhappy
problem pmblamf'pra:- (n С often plural] something that happens in your life that makes you feel worried and unhappy have a problem Bill isn't sleeping well - I think he's having problems at school. personal/emotional problems She's had a lot of personal problems - her mother died when she was eight.
troubles ."trAMz/ [n plural] things that
make you feel worried and unhappy, especially problems that have continued for a long time: It's nice to talk to someone about your troubles. I family troubles
■л to have a iot of problems
be in trouble bi: in 1гдЫ1/ to be in a difficult situation and have a lot of problems be in deep/serious/big trouble Their marriage was in serious trouble. get into trouble («start to have problems) A lot of people get into trouble when they borrow money.
be in a mess /bi: in э mes; informal if something is in a mess, there are so many problems that there is not much hope that things will get better: The economy is in a complete mess. get into a mess How did you manage to get into this mess in the first place? sb's li/e is a mess (=they have a lot of problems and seem unable to deal with them) Her boyfriend left her and she lost her job - her life is just a mess at the moment.