troublewith

Trouble with is a common English prepositional phrase used to indicate a problem or difficulty associated with a person, object, idea, or situation. It can introduce a clause describing the issue, and it can function as the subject of a sentence in constructions such as There is trouble with ... or The trouble with .... It is versatile in both informal and formal contexts.

Common forms and usage include:

- Have trouble with + noun or pronoun: I have trouble with the software; She has trouble with math.

- Have trouble doing something: I’m having trouble understanding the report.

- The trouble with + noun phrase: The trouble with this plan is the cost. This use highlights a specific flaw or limitation.

- The trouble with + clause: The trouble with you is you never finish what you start. This is a more rhetorical or evaluative use.

Nuance and register:

- The phrase often signals a problem that may be solvable or negotiable, rather than strong blame.

- It can convey mild complaint, practical difficulty, or critical assessment, depending on tone and context.

- In formal writing, simpler alternatives such as The main problem with ... or There are difficulties with ... may be preferred for precision.

See also:

- The idiom The trouble with ... as a rhetorical device to introduce a cited problem.

- Related expressions such as have difficulties with, face problems with, and issues with, which offer more formal or varied wording.