vicious circle
a problem which gets worse and worse
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
An Ipswich churchyard is being turned into a campsite for homeless people stuck in a VICIOUS CIRCLE.
(BBC News)
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Russia Trapped in VICIOUS CIRCLE in the Caucasus
(Georgian Daily)
(BBC News)
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Russia Trapped in VICIOUS CIRCLE in the Caucasus
(Georgian Daily)
Did you
know?
vicious circle
noun phrase
- a continuing unpleasant situation, created when one problem causes another problem which then makes the first problem worse
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
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Vicious circle was originally used by practitioners of logical thinking to describe a misleading argument based on the following statement:
A depends on B
B depends on C
Therefore A depends on C
The term was adopted by the medical field to describe when one symptom affects another, causing the patient's condition to become worse. The general meaning of "vicious circle" refers to a situation where one trouble leads to another, which ends up making the first one worse.
The opposite of a vicious circle is a "virtuous circle." This is a condition in which a favourable circumstance or result gives rise to another that subsequently supports the first. This is in contrast to a vicious circle, which leads to negative results.
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SYNONYMS
an unfortunate chain of circumstances, a negative domino effect, a knock-on effect, a ripple effect
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SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"A vicious circle of drug addiction and crime creates many social problems."
noun phrase
- a continuing unpleasant situation, created when one problem causes another problem which then makes the first problem worse
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
---
Vicious circle was originally used by practitioners of logical thinking to describe a misleading argument based on the following statement:
A depends on B
B depends on C
Therefore A depends on C
The term was adopted by the medical field to describe when one symptom affects another, causing the patient's condition to become worse. The general meaning of "vicious circle" refers to a situation where one trouble leads to another, which ends up making the first one worse.
The opposite of a vicious circle is a "virtuous circle." This is a condition in which a favourable circumstance or result gives rise to another that subsequently supports the first. This is in contrast to a vicious circle, which leads to negative results.
---
SYNONYMS
an unfortunate chain of circumstances, a negative domino effect, a knock-on effect, a ripple effect
---
SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"A vicious circle of drug addiction and crime creates many social problems."
