Etymology Verb is from Middle English troublen, trouble, borrowed from Old French troubler, trobler, trubler, metathetic variants of tourbler, torbler, turbler, from Vulgar Latin *turbulō, from Latin turbula (“disorderly group, a little crowd or people”), diminutive of turba (“stir; crowd”). The noun is from Middle English trouble, troble, from Old French troble, from the verb.
A difficulty, problem, condition, or action contributing to such a situation.
The trouble was a leaking brake line.
The bridge column magnified the trouble with a slight tilt in the wrong direction.
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Lest the fiend […] some new trouble raise.1667, John Milton, “Book XI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
Foul whisperings are abroad; unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles.c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
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A person liable to place others or themselves in such a situation.
’Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in So shame on me no-ow2021, Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback, “I Knew You Were Trouble (Taylor's Version)”, in Red (Taylor's Version), performed by Taylor Swift:
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The state of being troubled, disturbed, or distressed mentally; unease, disquiet.
Yet oft when sundown skirts the moor An inner trouble I behold, A spectral doubt which makes me cold, That I shall be thy mate no more, […]1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XL”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 63:
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Objectionable feature of something or someone; problem, drawback, weakness, failing, or shortcoming.
Your trouble is that you quit too readily.
The trouble with that suggestion is that we lack the funds to put it in motion.
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Violent or turbulent occurrence or event; unrest, disturbance.
the troubles in Northern Ireland
“I don’t know how you and the ‘head,’ as you call him, will get on, but I do know that if you call my duds a ‘livery’ again there’ll be trouble. It’s bad enough to go around togged out like a life saver on a drill day, but I can stand that ’cause I'm paid for it. What I won’t stand is to have them togs called a livery. […]”1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
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Efforts taken or expended, typically beyond the normal required.
It’s no trouble for me to edit it.
She never took the trouble to close them.1850, William Cullen Bryant, Letters of a Traveller:
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Indeed, by the report of our elders, this nervous preparation for old age is only trouble thrown away.1881, Robert Louis Stevenson, Virginibus Puerisque:
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Difficulty in doing something.
She has trouble eating.
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Health problems, ailment, generally of some particular part of the body.
Cockney, Slang Wife. Clipping of trouble and strife.
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Dated, Slang An unplanned, unwanted or undesired pregnancy.
I never had schoolin’ but he taught me well / With his smooth southern style / Three months later I’m a gal in trouble / And I haven’t seen him for a while.1971, Bob Stone, “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves”, performed by Cher:
Etymology Verb is from Middle English troublen, trouble, borrowed from Old French troubler, trobler, trubler, metathetic variants of tourbler, torbler, turbler, from Vulgar Latin *turbulō, from Latin turbula (“disorderly group, a little crowd or people”), diminutive of turba (“stir; crowd”). The noun is from Middle English trouble, troble, from Old French troble, from the verb.
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Archaic To disturb, stir up, agitate (a medium, especially water).
For an Angel went downe at a certaine season into the poole, and troubled the water:1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 5:4:
God looking forth will trouble all his Hoſt1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, line 1100:
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To mentally distress; to cause (someone) to be anxious or perplexed.
What she said about narcissism is troubling me.
Now is my soule troubled, and what shall I say? Father, saue me from this houre, but for this cause came I vnto this houre.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 12:27:
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Take the Boy to you: he ſo troubles me, / ’Tis paſt enduring.c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 281, column 2:
Never trouble your ſelf about thoſe Faults in them, which you know Age will cure.1693, [John Locke], “§65”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC, page 68:
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In weaker sense: to bother or inconvenience.
I will not trouble you to deliver the letter.
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Usually, Of ailments To physically afflict.
My bad knee is troubling me.
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To take pains (to do something); to bother.
I won’t trouble to post the letter today; I can do it tomorrow.
« The hut’s not very tidy, if you don’t mind, » he said. « I cleared it what I could. » / « But I didn’t want you to trouble! » she said.1928, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter X, in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, [Germany?]: Privately printed, →OCLC, page 132:
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To worry; to be anxious.
Why trouble about the future? It is wholly uncertain.1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.26: