thorny problem

collocation in English

meaningsofthornyandproblem

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withproblem.
thorny
adjective
uk
/ˈθɔː.ni/
us
/ˈθɔːr.ni/
A thorny problem or subject is difficult to ...
See more atthorny
problem
noun[C]
uk
/ˈprɒb.ləm/
us
/ˈprɑː.bləm/
a situation, person, or thing that needs attention and needs to be dealt with ...
See more atproblem

(Definition ofthornyandproblemfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofthorny problem

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
None the less, intercultural communication often runs into the notoriouslythornyproblemof ethical relativism.
From theCambridge English Corpus
This presented the government with athornyproblemas it strove to normalise relations with its new ally.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Nonetheless, intercultural communication often runs into the notoriouslythornyproblemof ethical relativism.
From theCambridge English Corpus
He begins by tackling thethornyproblemof defining what soft news is.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Data is athornyproblemfor the textbook writer, especially where the author has to rely on published descriptions, which are never as complete as might be wished.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Anotherthornyproblemrelating to the proposal is labelling showing the origin of the meat.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
And then there is thethornyproblemof fisheries, which we have been considering today.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
I sincerely hope that the forthcoming negotiations may lead to a successful solution of this mostthornyproblem.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
That is the result of a dragging of feet for years, on what is admittedly thethornyproblemof the reform of local government.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I am doing my best to bear in mind all the relevant considerations in regard to this verythornyproblem.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I have to refer to one verythornyproblem.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We now get to thethornyproblemof unattached architects.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
One could cut out the food subsidies, the electricity and gas subsidies and so on, and start on thethornyproblemof housing subsidies.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We congratulate her on her non-legalistic, commonsense approach to thethornyproblemof "in charge" cases.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
But controlling international waterways is athornyproblemand it will be difficult to get some sort of agreement, for instance, to extend territorial waters.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is athornyproblembecause various conflicting interests are at issue, especially those of health and of industry.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
Potatoes are athornyproblemfrom the marketing point of view.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
This brings us to the verythornyproblemof redundancy.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The redevelopment of the town centre will cost millions of pounds, and, here again, the council has athornyproblemto handle.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
They want a satisfactory, commonsense, genuine solution of athornyproblem.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
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Go to the definition ofthorny
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See other collocations withproblem