to get in trouble
203
2.7
- phrasal verb
:
meterse en problemas
- He knew he would get in trouble if he missed curfew again.
- get in trouble with a teacher
- students get in trouble
- children get in trouble
What did Zach get in trouble for most growing up?
- What did Zach get in trouble for most growing up?
- I'm gonna get in trouble, but I'll just be honest.
- I'd get, like, slapped, but I'd get in trouble in school a lot.
- The fewer kids get in trouble when they have that early education.
- If you're going to get in trouble for saying that, I'm just kidding.
- I I can't get in trouble and I stopped.
Examples
-
You stand up for yourself and defend yourself; then you get in trouble.
Academic text (2013) -
You know, I could help you if you ever get in trouble.
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I just got in trouble for that thing.
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And it was sweet, except he always got in trouble with his investors.
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And I get in trouble again and again.
-
So if America gets in trouble, Canada gets in trouble.
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And as I say, I always get in trouble when I try to draw it.
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I just feel like we're gonna get in trouble.
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I guess now we'll have to go home before we all get in trouble.
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You're gonna get in trouble.
Synonyms
200
2.6
Have problems because of what you do
113
8.2
To be punished or scolded for something you did
13
6.7
To receive punishment or bad results for doing wrong
8
6.4
To receive praise, criticism, or blame
5
8.2
To get a lot of blame or punishment for a mistake
3
8.3
To be punished or scolded by someone in charge
1
7.4
Get a lot of criticism or blame from other people
1
8.7
Get a strong scolding from someone after doing something wrong
1
4.8
To end up in a difficult situation because of your choices
To be punished for something you did wrong
Antonyms
How Serious
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to become subject to punishment or negative consequences' is directly derivable from combining 'get' (become/receive) + 'in' (into a state/position) + 'trouble' (difficulty or punishment). This verb + preposition + noun pattern (e.g. 'get into trouble') is a regular, cross-linguistically common way to express entering a negative state, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily understand it.
Etymology
The phrase get in trouble comes from a simple image: someone who gets in to a place called trouble and so faces blame or punishment. That's why it now means 'to be punished or criticized for something you did'.