How to talk about problems in English

Life isn't always smooth sailing, and when things go wrong, English has some great idioms to talk about it. Whether you're putting off something unpleasant or dealing with a mistake, these five phrases will help you describe it naturally.

Bite the bullet

To "bite the bullet" means to finally do something unpleasant that you've been putting off, because avoiding it would only make things worse.

• I hate going to the dentist, but I'll have to bite the bullet and book an appointment.
• After weeks of putting it off, he finally bit the bullet and did his taxes.
• Just bite the bullet and call her. It won't be as bad as you think.

In hot water

If you're "in hot water," you're in trouble, usually because of something you did. Maybe you missed a deadline, broke a rule, or said the wrong thing.

• He forgot their anniversary, so he's in hot water with his wife.
• She got in hot water for posting about the project before it was announced.
• You'll be in hot water if your mom finds out you skipped school.

A can of worms

"Opening a can of worms" means starting something that turns out to be much more complicated than expected, and usually creates a whole new set of problems.

• Bringing up politics at the family dinner opened a real can of worms.
• I thought fixing one mistake in the report would be quick, but it turned into a can of worms.
• Let's not ask about the budget today. That's a can of worms I don't want to open.

In a pickle

If you're "in a pickle," you're stuck in a tricky situation with no easy way out. It's a lighthearted phrase, so it works best for everyday problems, not serious ones.

• Jake's in a pickle after sending a text to the wrong person.
• I'm really in a pickle. My best friend's party is the same night as my cousin's wedding!
• I locked my keys in the car, so I'm in a bit of a pickle.

Hit the nail on the head

When you're dealing with a problem, it helps when someone figures out exactly what's causing it. That's when you say they "hit the nail on the head." If you speak German, you'll recognize this one, because den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen means the same thing.

• You hit the nail on the head. The project failed because nobody planned it properly.
• I couldn't work out why my phone wasn't charging, but you hit the nail on the head. It was the cable.
• When she said I wasn't tired, just bored, she hit the nail on the head.

We can't always avoid life's problems, no matter how hard we try. But at least now you have the right words to talk about them, and maybe even laugh about them later.

Watch our Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs to pick up even more idioms like these.