an idiom that means you have a problem

[alpacinou]

Hello to all,

Is there an interesting idiom I can use in this sentence instead of the underlined part?

If you have a nasty boss, you have a big problem.
If you have bad neighbors, you have a big problem.

 

[NamelessKing]

Hello to all,

Is there an interesting idiom I can use in this sentence instead of the underlined part?

If you have a nasty boss, you have a big problem.
If you have bad neighbors, you have a big problem.

In dire straits.

Not a teacher

 

[Tarheel]

I don't know about an idiom, but both are stressful.

 

[alpacinou]

In dire straits.

Not a teacher

Thank you for your suggestion.

Can native speakers comment on this please?

If you have bad neighbors, you are in dire straits.

 

[Tarheel]

Thank you for your suggestion.

Can native speakers comment on this please?

If you have bad neighbors, you are in dire straits.

I wouldn't use that. I would say if you have bad neighbors you have a serious problem.

 

[jutfrank]

in dire straits is not appropriate.

What do you mean exactly?

 

[alpacinou]

in dire straits is not appropriate.

What do you mean exactly?

I want to use an idiom that would suggest having a bad neighbor is a really big problem.

 

[probus]

You got "in dire straits" because you wanted an idiom. Here's another idiom that fits the bill pretty well albeit not perfectly:

If you have a nasty boss, you have a tough row to hoe.

 

[alpacinou]

You got "in dire straits" because you wanted an idiom. Here's another idiom that fits the bill pretty well albeit not perfectly:

If you have a nasty boss, you have a tough row to hoe.

Does this work? :

-I am moving to L.A tomorrow. I haven't had a chance to meet my new neighbors but they did not look like nice people.
-If you have nasty neighbors, you have a tough row to hoe.

 

[probus]

I'm afraid not. The thing with bad neighnors is to avoid and ignore them. So that would be a row that doesn't get hoed. I can't think of a colorful idiom that really suits both bad boss and bad neighbors

 

[Tarheel]

Does this work? :

I am moving to L.A tomorrow. I haven't had a chance to meet my new neighbors but they do not look like nice people.

You haven't met them, but you already have an opinion about them?

 

[alpacinou]

I'm afraid not. The thing with bad neighnors is to avoid and ignore them. So that would be a row that doesn't get hoed. I can't think of a colorful idiom that really suits both bad boss and bad neighbors

What about an idiom that would work for the neighbor's situation?

 

[alpacinou]

You haven't met them, but you already have an opinion about them?

It's just an example. Imagine it's based on a hunch.

 

[TheParser]

If you have bad neighbors, you have a big problem.

NOT A TEACHER


Hello, Alpacinoutd:

Maybe: "If you have neighbors from hell, you are in deep water."

Actually, in American English, there is a more "colorful" word for "water," but it is a tiny bit vulgar, so I am afraid to use it.

 

[Tarheel]

Deep doo doo?

 

[alpacinou]

Deep doo doo?

I think he means being in deep sh*t.

 

[TheParser]

I think he means being in deep sh*t.

NOT A TEACHER


Hi,

Oh, no! I did not.

I was referring to those two words in post 15, but I was afraid that those two words were too naughty to use here.

The word you mentioned is still too vulgar in 2019 to say publicly, even in jest.

 

[emsr2d2]

I think we can safely say that "doo doo" is not considered vulgar! In BrE, you'll hear "sh*t" regularly. We asterisk it on the forum because the minimum age to use the forum is 14 and some people would consider it offensive to use swear words in front of 14-year-olds. (If there's a 14-year-old in the UK who hasn't heard/used that word multiple times, I'll eat my hat!)

 

[alpacinou]

Can I say this?

If you have bad neighbors, you are in hot water.

 

[GoesStation]

Can I say this?

If you have bad neighbors, you are in hot water.

No. That means you are in trouble with some kind of authority.