hurdle
noun
[ ˈhəːd(ə)l ]
• one of a series of upright frames over which athletes in a race must jump.
• "a hurdle race"
• a problem or difficulty that must be overcome.
• "many would like to emigrate to the United States, but face formidable hurdles"
Similar:
obstacle,
difficulty,
problem,
barrier,
bar,
snag,
stumbling block,
impediment,
obstruction,
complication,
handicap,
hindrance,
hiccup,
headache,
fly in the ointment,
spanner in the works,
monkey wrench in the works,
• a portable rectangular frame strengthened with withies or wooden bars, used as a temporary fence.
Similar:
fence,
jump,
barrier,
barricade,
bar,
railing,
rail,
wall,
hedge,
hedgerow,
hurdle
verb
• take part in a hurdle race.
• "this gelding hurdled fluently"
• enclose or fence off with hurdles.
• "a maze of individual hurdled pens"
Origin:
Old English hyrdel ‘temporary fence’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch horde and German Hürde .
