Houston We Have a Problem

Houston We Have a Problem (phrase / US Slang, from Apollo 13)

(Also heard as: Houston, we have a problem, Houston, we’ve had a problem)

Definition:

“Houston, we have a problem” is a dramatic way of announcing that something has gone wrong. It is used for anything from a spilled drink to a big crisis.

Where Houston We Have a Problem Comes From:

It comes from the real Apollo 13 mission in 1970, where astronauts reported an oxygen tank failure to mission control in Houston. The film Apollo 13 (1995) with Tom Hanks popularised the slightly altered line “Houston, we have a problem”.

How People Actually Use Houston We Have a Problem:

Said jokingly when something goes wrong: “Houston, we have a problem. The wifi is down.”

Is Houston We Have a Problem Rude?

No. It is a harmless, dramatic joke.

Examples in the Wild:

• “Houston, we have a problem. I locked the keys in the car.”Meaning: Something has gone wrong.
• “Houston, we have a problem, the cake collapsed.”Meaning: The cake did not work out.
• “Quick, Houston, we have a problem with the printer.”Meaning: The printer has broken down.

Similar Slang:

Yikes, Shambles, Hot Mess, Pear-Shaped

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