Problem child Meaning in English
expression
Definition
A child who often causes trouble or has behavioral or emotional difficulties. It can also be used for anything—like a project or company division—that causes ongoing problems.
Usage & Nuances
Informal, sometimes sounds judgmental if referring to children. Used metaphorically for anything that regularly causes trouble (e.g., 'the problem child of the company'). In literal use, often refers to a child needing special attention; in business or media, it's a playful way to talk about troublesome projects or products.
Example Sentences
Sometimes a problem child needs extra attention from teachers.
basic
The company's new division quickly became a problem child.
basic
Jake is a problem child in his class.
basic
"Our marketing team has been a problem child for a while now," the manager admitted.
natural
I'm not surprised Tim got called in again—he's always been the problem child at home.
natural
That software upgrade turned out to be a real problem child for the whole IT team.
natural