# therein lies the rub

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/therein-lies-the-rub
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

That is where the problem is found or located.

## Examples

- I want to travel, but therein lies the rub: I have no money.
- We need to finish the project by tomorrow, but therein lies the rub: the software is not working yet.
- The committee proposed a radical solution to improve efficiency, yet therein lies the rub, as the plan requires a budget that the company simply cannot afford.

## Origin

A misquotation or paraphrasing from Shakespeare's Hamlet: "ay, there's the rub".

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.