vicious circle

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

ˌvicious ˈcircle [vicious circle] BrE NAmE noun singular
a situation in which one problem causes another problem which then makes the first problem worse
compare ↑virtuous circle

Example Bank:
•He was trapped in a vicious circle of addiction and petty crime.
•She can't see any way to break out of this vicious circle.
•Stress and fatigue can create a vicious circle.