How to deal with problems: how to talk about the problems

Every day we consciously or unconsciously confronted with many problems. Oh my God, a chair broke (Oh dear! The chair’s broken)! Again pipe flows (the pipe is leaking)! And turn off the light (there must be a power cut). Saw? The floor in the bathroom was flooded (the bathroom flooded)! Well, great! Even my favorite mug cracked (the cup’s chipped)! The list can go on forever. Today I would like to talk about how nice and you can tell right about the problem, and then about its decision, of course, in English!

Having problems. When we have a problem

1. To run into a (brick) wall / to come up against a (brick) wall / to hit a (brick) wall — something to prevent me from doing what I want; «Rest against a blank wall»; be at an impasse; the problem is almost impossible to solve.

I do not know, man. I just feel that I’ve come up against a brick wall. — I do not know, man. I just feel like I hit a dead end.

2. To put your foot in it (British English) / To put your foot in your mouth (American English) — blurt out too much.

You really should not have put your foot in it. It was embarrassing for your husband. — You should not have to talk too much. Your husband was embarrassed.

3. To be in dire straits / to be in desperate straits — to be in a desperate situation, especially when it comes to money.

Even though she was in dire straits, she did not turn to her relatives for some cash. — Although she was in dire straits, it is still not turned to relatives for cash.

4. To dig yourself into a hole / to dig a hole for yourself — to dig himself a hole; «He digs his own grave.»

Sometimes I have a strong feeling that the government is digging itself into a hole imposing such stupid tax rates. — Sometimes I think that the government is digging its own grave, obliging to pay such a stupid tax rates.

5. To spread oneself too thin — to do too many things at once and not very good; sprayed; take up a lot of things at once; literally — «stretch themselves too»

I always look up to those people who can do a lot of things at once. How do not they spread themselves too thin? — I’ve always admired people who can do many things at once. As they are not sprayed on trifles?

6. To be left holding the baby (British English) / to be left holding the bag (American English) — to be forced to solve the problem on their own as a single parent who has to care for the child himself.

Can you imagine? My partner abandoned the project because he did not believe in us anymore, so I was left holding the baby. — Can you imagine? My partner left the project because he no longer believed in us, and I was left alone with the problem.

7. To get / put / have somebody over a barrel — do not leave a choice.

You will do what I told you to do. I got you over a barrel. — You will do as I say. I did not leave you a choice.

8. To clutch at straws — to grasp at straws.

I know it is not a solution to the problem, I am just clutching at straws now. — I understand that this is not the solution to the problem, I’m just grasping at straws.

9. A stumbling block — a stumbling block.

The agreement can be concluded if you compromise. Your willingness to get more is a stumbling block here. — The contract can be signed, if you go on the compromise. Your desire for more — a stumbling block.

10. To face the music — to answer for their actions, actions.

One way or another he will have to face the music for all the awful things he has done to her. — Anyway, he will have to answer for all the terrible things he did to her.

Dealing with problems. Solving problems

1. To make do / to get by — do; deal.

Our company has to make do on less income. — Our company has to get by with less income.

2. To get / come to grips with — trying to cope with something.

So far Bill has failed to come to grips with his home assignment. — While Bill was unable to cope with the homework.

3. To get to the bottom of — get, get to the truth.

My dear friend, you need to get to the bottom of crisis to solve it. — My friend, you have to get to the bottom of the crisis to resolve it.

4. To be in the bag — the trick is done.

She can stop worrying now. The supply contract is in the bag. — It can stop worrying. Contact us for delivery, consider, already her.

5. To wave a magic wand — by magic.

It is impossible! Somebody, wave a magic wand! Everything is useless, I do not know how to solve this test! — It’s impossible! Somebody, wave your magic wand! All is useless, I do not know how to solve this test!

6. To tie up a few loose ends — the last (final) strokes.

Okay, you are almost there, you just need to tie up a few loose ends and the project will be prefect! — So, you’re almost set up, I stayed a couple of finishing touches, and your project will be perfect!

7. To fall into place — everything falls into place.

When I realized that the woman who was accompanying him was his mother, everything fell into places — When I realized that the woman accompanying him was his mother, everything fell into place.

8. To pick up the pieces — oklematsya after impact; recover; the pieces to rebuild their lives.

Bob abandoned his family, having left his wife to pick up the pieces. — Bob left the family, leaving his wife to settle all.

In working with idioms and phrases should be resistant to balance on the one hand it is necessary to try to diversify his speech something «that kind» on the other — do not overdo it! Otherwise, the lost beauty and the «tastes» of frazochek. Everything is good in moderation.

 

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