In difficulties - definition

[wolniack]

Test No. incompl/inter-20 "Will or Shall?", question 8

There is a man in the river fully clothed who is ..........

(a) in problems
(b) in hardships
(c) in difficulties
(d) in hazards

Test No. incompl/inter-20 "Will or Shall?", answer 8

There is a man in the river fully clothed who is in difficulties.

Correct answer: (c) in difficulties
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why not -in problems? what is the different?
thank you ; -)

[Alan]

The standard expression for people in danger particularly on water is in difficulties. You couldn't use the same expression with problems because you would have to say having problems.
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English as a Second Language
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[guest]

how about people in danger but not in water? we still use the expression in difficulities ?
thanks

[Alan]

Yes, it can (apart from in the sentence I've used) also mean the meaning of struggling/not managing/not coping but the emphasis is on physical difficulties
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Head expressions for you