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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Hurdle Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：difficulty or barrier (hurdle)

hurdle 🔊

/ˈhɜːrdl/

A problem or difficulty that you must deal with before you can make progress or achieve something.

Hurdle as a challenge illustrated by a person facing a stack of grammar books blocking fluency.

difficulty or barrier 🔊

➕

/ˈdɪfɪkəlti ɔːr ˈbæriər/

A metaphorical obstacle or challenge that must be overcome to achieve a goal or make progress.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English ‘hyrdel’, meaning a frame or lattice.

💡 Mnemonic

Her duel started with a hurdle. (Sounds like ‘her duel’.)

📖 Example

The biggest hurdle for the new student was overcoming her shyness to make friends. 🔊 The primary obstacle for the new student was conquering her shyness to establish friendships.

🔗 Collocations

overcome a hurdle – To successfully deal with and move past a difficulty.

face a hurdle – To encounter or be confronted with an obstacle.

clear a hurdle – To overcome an obstacle, often used metaphorically like in sports.

🔄 Synonyms

obstacle (n.) – Something that blocks your way or makes progress difficult.

barrier (n.) – A fence or obstacle that prevents movement or access, also used metaphorically.

challenge (n.) – A task or situation that tests someone's abilities.

🚫 Antonyms

opportunity (n.) – A set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.

advantage (n.) – A condition giving a greater chance of success.

🌱 Derivatives

hurdled (adj.) – Having overcome obstacles.

hurdler (n.) – A runner in a hurdle race; someone who overcomes challenges.

📖 Cultural Story

The word ‘hurdle’ originally referred to a portable frame of intertwined twigs or branches used as a temporary fence or gate in a sheep pen. Its use in athletics for a barrier to be jumped over dates from the early 19th century. This physical sense naturally extended metaphorically to mean any obstacle one must overcome.

Meaning 2：racing obstacle (hurdle)

hurdle 🔊

/ˈhɜːrdl/

A light frame or fence that runners must jump over in a race.

racing obstacle 🔊

➕

/ˈreɪsɪŋ ˈɒbstəkl/

A lightweight, portable barrier that athletes must jump over in certain running races, such as the 110-meter hurdles.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

In the 110-meter race, the athlete gracefully cleared every hurdle on the track. 🔊 In the 110-meter race, the athlete elegantly jumped over every barrier on the running track.

🔗 Collocations

clear a hurdle – To jump over a hurdle successfully without knocking it down.

knock over a hurdle – To hit a hurdle during a race, causing it to fall, which often slows the runner.

hurdle race – A track event in which runners must jump over a series of hurdles.

🔄 Synonyms

barrier (n.) – A fence-like structure used in races that must be jumped over.

fence (n.) – A structure serving as a barrier or obstacle in certain sports or events.

jump (n.) – An obstacle to be jumped over in equestrian or athletic events (e.g., steeplechase).

🚫 Antonyms

flat race (n.) – A running race with no obstacles or hurdles to jump over.