Meaning & use
trouble spots
Last updated
“trouble spots” is a form of “trouble spot”.
Meaning
nounplural
Places or areas where there is a lot of trouble, such as violence, conflict, or difficulty.
Grammar: Always plural in this form; the singular is 'trouble spot'.
Patterns
- trouble spots in a place
- known trouble spots
The police increased patrols in the city's trouble spots.
Travelers were warned to avoid trouble spots near the border.
The report identified several trouble spots in the region.
Word forms
| singular | trouble spot |
|---|
Common combinations
- known trouble spots
- The guidebook lists known trouble spots for tourists.
- political trouble spots
- Journalists often report from political trouble spots.
- avoid trouble spots
- Drivers should avoid trouble spots during rush hour.
- trouble spots around the world
- The charity works in trouble spots around the world.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hot spots
- Hot spots can mean places of trouble, but also places of activity or excitement, so it is less specific.
- danger zones
- Danger zones are areas that are dangerous, often more official and specific than trouble spots.
Opposites
Word family
- trouble noun
- Problems or difficulties.
- troublesome adjective
- Causing difficulty or annoyance.
Commonly confused: trouble spots or troubleshoot?
trouble spots vs troubleshoot
'Troubleshoot' is a verb meaning to solve problems, not a noun for places.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'trouble spots' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Trouble spots' are places with problems, so a map showing accident areas fits. The other options confuse it with physical objects or food.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “trouble spots”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.