Meaning & use
tackling a problem
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
dealing with a difficult situation or question in order to solve or improve it
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase (gerund) that can be the subject or object of a sentence. It is not used with 'a' before 'tackling'.
Patterns
- tackling a problem
- tackling a problem head-on
- tackling a problem with something
Tackling a problem early is usually easier than waiting.
The company is committed to tackling the problem of plastic waste.
She is very good at tackling a problem step by step.
phraseuncountable
the act of beginning to deal with a problem or challenge
Grammar: Often used after prepositions like 'before' or 'after' to describe a stage in a process.
Patterns
- before tackling a problem
- after tackling a problem
- when tackling a problem
Before tackling the problem, they gathered all the facts.
After tackling the problem, the team felt a sense of relief.
Common combinations
- tackling a problem head-on
- They decided to tackle the problem head-on instead of avoiding it.
- tackling a problem effectively
- We need a more effective way of tackling the problem.
- tackling a problem together
- Tackling the problem together made it much easier.
- tackling a problem creatively
- She is known for tackling problems creatively.
Synonyms and how they differ
- addressing
- Addressing is slightly more formal and often means giving attention to a problem; tackling suggests actively working to solve it.
- dealing with
- Dealing with is more general and can mean managing a situation; tackling implies a more direct, energetic approach.
- confronting
- Confronting often means facing a problem directly, sometimes with courage; tackling focuses on the action of solving.
Opposites
Word family
Practice
The manager suggested _____ the problem by breaking it into smaller parts.
Choose one answer.
After the preposition 'by', we need the -ing form of the verb, so 'tackling' is correct. 'Tackle' is the base form, 'tackled' is past tense, and 'to tackle' would need a different structure like 'suggested to tackle' (which is not standard).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tackling a problem”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.