a vicious circle
Meaning: A situation where one problem causes another, which makes the first worse.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Poor sleep makes her anxious, and anxiety keeps her awake: a vicious circle.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: From logic, where a "vicious circle" is an argument that assumes what it tries to prove. The general sense is common from the 19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Polish: błędne koło — literally: false circle
More idioms — Daily Life
- a ballpark figure — A rough estimate.
- make someone's life hell — To make someone very unhappy for a long time.
- sweep something under the rug — To hide a problem instead of dealing with it.
- play for time — To delay deliberately in the hope of improving one's position.
- even Homer nods — Even the most skilled people sometimes make mistakes.
- borrow trouble — To worry about problems that may never happen.
More English idioms
- birds of a feather flock together — People with similar interests or character tend to spend time together.
- wish the ground would swallow one up — To feel so embarrassed that one wants to disappear.
- have one's head screwed on — To be sensible and practical.
- a bird-brain — A silly or scatterbrained person.
- toss one's cookies — To vomit.
- put on a brave face — To look cheerful or confident while feeling otherwise.
From our proverbs
- Matrimony's a matter of money. — Successful marriage requires financial stability and shared economic understanding betwee…
- The merry month of May. — May's arrival brings renewal and joy, celebrated as nature's most vibrant and hopeful sea…
- Misunderstanding brings lies to town. — Unclear communication creates fertile ground where falsehoods spread and distort truth.