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stumbling block

 - 3 dictionary results

stumbling block

 
–noun
an obstacle or hindrance to progress, belief, or understanding.
Use stumbling block in a Sentence
Origin:
1580–90

Synonyms:
hurdle, barrier, impediment, block, bar.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To stumbling block
stum·bling block   (stŭm'blĭng)
n.  An obstacle or impediment.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

stumbling block

A hindrance or obstacle, as in His lack of a degree is a real stumbling block to his advancement. This term originally meant "a tree stump over which one trips." Its figurative use dates from the early 1500s.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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