in bed with trouble
- idiom
- Informal
:
en problemas
- Jason realized too late that he was in bed with trouble because of his risky investments.
Examples
-
After lying to her boss, she found herself in bed with trouble.
-
I found myself in bed with trouble after missing the deadline.
-
If you don't fix this mistake soon, you'll be in bed with trouble with the company.
-
She's in bed with trouble because of her poor financial choices.
-
After lying to her boss, she found herself in bed with trouble.
-
If you don't fix this mistake soon, you'll be in bed with trouble with the company.
-
Jason realized too late that he was in bed with trouble because of his risky investments.
Synonyms
∞
2.9
In difficulty and likely to face bad results because of a mistake or bad situation
12
4.1
In trouble because you did something wrong
4
3.7
A difficult situation that is hard to deal with
1
8.6
A small problem that causes worry and needs help
Deeply involved in a difficult or public dispute
Antonyms
How Involved
103
3.2
- Informal
∞
2.9
5
4.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal words ('in' + 'bed' + 'with' + 'trouble') signal close association with trouble, so a learner could guess some kind of involvement; however the construction 'in bed with' is a metaphorical/idiomatic collocation meaning being complicit or closely allied and is not a straightforward compositional pattern. Because part of the meaning can be inferred from the parts but the idiomatic sense of 'in bed with' requires prior exposure, this is best classified as semi-transparent.
Etymology
The expression in bed with trouble paints a simple image: imagine lying in the same bed as a problem, with bed and trouble so close you cannot get away. That's why it means 'involved in a problematic or difficult situation'.