a vicious cycle — self-worsening loop
a situation in which one problem causes another problem, making the first problem even worse, so the cycle keeps repeating and getting harder to break.
Say it like a native
Textbook This generates a self-perpetuating and self-reinforcing detrimental cycle.
Native It's a vicious cycle.
'Self-perpetuating, self-reinforcing detrimental cycle' is jargon for the everyday 'vicious cycle'.
Pattern: a vicious cycle of [noun/gerund]
In use
- Many people get trapped in a vicious cycle of stress and poor sleep, where each one makes the other worse.daily life
- If people lose their jobs, they may become depressed, which can make it even harder to find new work, creating a vicious cycle that is difficult to escape.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ It's a vicious cycle that's hard to break out.
✓ It's a vicious cycle that's hard to break out of.
You 'break out OF' a vicious cycle (or just 'break' it).
Common collocations
a vicious cycle of— of, break, trapped in, create
Don't confuse it
Unlike a simple problem or a one-off setback, 'a vicious cycle' refers to a repeating pattern where each problem makes the next one worse. It is not used for positive feedback loops (which are called 'virtuous cycles').