trouble (redirected from asked for trouble)

be asking for trouble

to behave stupidly in a way that is likely to cause problems for you. Drinking and driving is just asking for trouble.

See also: ask

pour oil on troubled waters

to do or say something in order to make people stop arguing and become calmer. She was furious with Dave for forgetting her birthday so I tried to pour oil on troubled waters by offering to take them both out for a meal.

See also: oil, pour, Waters

spell trouble

to be the cause of possible problems in the future. The continuing dry weather could spell trouble for farmers. (often + for)

See also: spell

teething problems/troubles

problems that you experience in the early stages of an activity. There were the usual teething troubles at the start of the project, but that's to be expected. Many marriages go through teething problems in the first few months.

See also: problem

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ask for trouble

to behave in a way that will cause you problems. Drinking before driving is asking for trouble. Phil wondered why Deegan was always looking for trouble.

ask for something

See also: ask

go to the trouble (of doing something)

to make an effort to do something. If anyone had gone to the trouble of looking up his record, the police would not have released him.

look for troubleSee at: ask for trouble

See also: look

the trouble with someone/something

one annoying characteristic of someone or something. The trouble with this place is they don't care about the people who work here.