Meaning & use
trial and tribulation
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseformal
A difficult experience or series of troubles that test someone's patience or strength.
Grammar: Most often plural: 'the trials and tribulations of ...'. It works as a noun phrase and can follow 'of'.
Patterns
- the trials and tribulations of something
- go through trials and tribulations
- face trials and tribulations
She wrote a book about the trials and tribulations of running a small farm.
After many trials and tribulations, the team finally reached the summit.
The film follows one family's trials and tribulations during the war.
Common combinations
- trials and tribulations of
- He described the trials and tribulations of starting a business.
- go through trials and tribulations
- They went through many trials and tribulations before they succeeded.
- face trials and tribulations
- Every young athlete faces trials and tribulations.
- despite trials and tribulations
- Despite all the trials and tribulations, she never gave up.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hardship
- A single, more general word for suffering; the phrase 'trials and tribulations' suggests a long series of separate troubles.
- ordeal
- A single terrible experience; use the phrase when you mean many smaller difficulties over time.
- ups and downs
- Informal and milder, covering both good and bad times, while 'trials and tribulations' stresses only the bad.
Opposites
Commonly confused: trial and tribulation or trial?
trial and tribulation vs trial
On its own, 'trial' can mean a court case or a test; the fixed phrase 'trials and tribulations' is only about troubles.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is a noun phrase meaning troubles, so it fits after 'the' and before 'of'. The other options try to use it as a verb or a countable object, which English does not allow.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “trial and tribulation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.