problem

Universal Words noun, adjective noun 1 a thing that is difficult to deal with or to understand: big / major / serious problems * health / unemployment / family problems * financial / practical / technical problems * to address / tackle / solve a problem * (especially AmE) to fix a problem * the problem of drug abuse * If he chooses Mary it's bound to cause problems. * Let me know if you have any problems. * Most students face the problem of funding themselves while they are studying. * The problem first arose in 1993. * Unemployment is a very real problem for graduates now. * It's a nice table! The only problem is (that) it's a bit too big for our room. * Stop worrying about their marriage-it isn't your problem. * There's no history of heart problems (= disease connected with the heart) in our family. * the magazine's problem page (= containing letters about readers' problems and advice about how to solve them) 2 a question that can be answered by using logical thought or mathematics: mathematical / philosophical problems * to find the answer to the problem * The teacher set us 50 problems to do. IDIOMS Do you have a problem with that? (spoken) used to show that you are impatient with sb who disagrees with you no problem (spoken, informal) 1 (also not a problem) used to show that you are happy to help sb or that sth will be easy to do: 'Can I pay by credit card?' 'Yes, no problem.' 2 used after sb has thanked you or said they are sorry for sth: 'Thanks for the ride.' 'No problem.' it's / that's not my problem (spoken, informal) used to show that you do not care about sb else's difficulties: If they can't afford to go, that's not my problem. that's her / his / their / your problem (spoken, informal) used to show that you think a person should deal with their own difficulties: 'My parents will be furious!' 'That's your problem.' What's your problem? (spoken, informal) used to show that you think sb is being unreasonable: What's your problem?-I only asked if you could help me for ten minutes. adjective [onlybeforenoun] causing problems for other people: She was a problem child, always in trouble with the police.