a vicious circle
/ə ˌvɪʃəs ˈsɜːkl/NEUTRAL · B2
Meaning
a situation where one problem causes another that makes the first worse
Examples
- 1Poor sleep makes you stressed, and stress ruins your sleep, so it's a vicious circle.
- 2Many families get into a vicious circle of borrowing money to pay off old debts.
- 3The shop cut staff to save money, service got worse, fewer people came, and it was a vicious circle.
- 4Skipping breakfast makes Ben snack all morning and skip lunch, a vicious circle he can't escape.
- 5How can young people escape a vicious circle where no job means no experience and no experience means no job?
Grammar
A countable noun phrase. The problems can follow with of. a vicious cycle is also used.
More idioms about problems and trouble
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →face the musicto accept criticism or punishment for something you didrock the boatto upset a calm situation and cause problemsthrow a spanner in the worksto do something that stops a plan from succeedingsweep something under the carpetto hide a problem instead of dealing with itteething problemssmall difficulties at the start of something newtouch and goso uncertain that it could easily end badly
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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