runawayproblem
nounUK /ˈrʌnəweɪ ˈprɒbləm/
US /ˈrʌnəweɪ ˈprɑːbləm/
A problem that keeps getting bigger and bigger and is hard to stop.
The messy room became a runaway problem when nobody cleaned it for a week.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A situation that grows too fast to control, like a fire spreading.
The small leak turned into a runaway problem and flooded the whole basement.
3. A worry that keeps getting worse because no one fixes it.
His fear of tests was a runaway problem until he asked for help.
4. Something that keeps causing more trouble the longer it is ignored.
The broken fence was a runaway problem because the sheep kept escaping.