run into difficulties

Meaning

This phrase means to experience or encounter unexpected problems, obstacles, or complications while trying to complete a task or project. It is a professional and neutral way to report issues to managers or clients without sounding overly dramatic.

Examples

• The development team ran into difficulties while integrating the new payment gateway.

  The development team ran into difficulties while integrating the new payment gateway.

• If you run into difficulties with the software installation, please contact IT support.

  If you run into difficulties with the software installation, please contact IT support.

• We might run into difficulties if we don't secure the budget approval by Friday.

  We might run into difficulties if we don't secure the budget approval by Friday.

• Our supply chain ran into difficulties due to the unexpected shipping delays.

  Our supply chain ran into difficulties due to the unexpected shipping delays.

• Despite running into some initial difficulties, the project was completed on time.

  Despite running into some initial difficulties, the project was completed on time.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We ran into difficults during the final testing phase.

  ✓ We ran into difficulties during the final testing phase.

  'Difficult' is an adjective. You must use the plural noun 'difficulties' after the preposition 'into'.

• ✗ The project met with difficulties.

  ✓ The project ran into difficulties.

  While 'meet with difficulties' is occasionally used in formal contexts, 'run into difficulties' is the standard, natural collocation in business.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Please let me know immediately if you ___ with the client's account.

  💡 encounter unexpected problems

  Show answer

  run into difficulties

• The construction project ___ due to bad weather conditions.

  💡 past tense of encountering obstacles

  Show answer

  ran into difficulties