stumbling blocks
Barriers to advancement
Stumbling blocks are obstacles that impede progress or cause difficulty.
The image is of something in your path that trips you up: The main stumbling block to the deal was disagreement over price.
Unlike barriers, which stop movement entirely, stumbling blocks slow you down or make you falter without necessarily preventing advancement.
Obstruction preventing passage
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- roadblockObstruction across a road
- hurdleBarrier to leap over
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
snag · bottleneck · blockade · wall · barricade · gridlock · logjam · deadlock
State of being hard
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- adversitySevere difficulty or suffering
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- ordealDifficult, painful experience
struggle · complication · predicament · quandary · puzzle · dilemma · conundrum · test
Limiting condition or rule
- limitationBound on extent
- restrictionLimit on action
- handicapImposed competitive disadvantage
- encumbranceHindrance or legal claim
deterrent · inhibition · restraint · curb · check · drag · brake · fetter
Enforced waiting period
- reversalComplete change of direction
- relapseReturn to former illness
- defeatVictory over another
- regressionReturn to former state
misstep · mishap · blunder · disappointment · derailment · detour · backslide · step backward
barrier
Obstruction preventing passage
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- roadblockObstruction across a road
- hurdleBarrier to leap over
obstruction · snag · bottleneck · blockade · wall · barricade · gridlock · logjam · deadlock · pitfall
difficulty
State of being hard
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- adversitySevere difficulty or suffering
- trialJudicial examination of claims
ordeal · struggle · complication · predicament · quandary · puzzle · dilemma · conundrum · test · plight
constraint
Limiting condition or rule
- limitationBound on extent
- restrictionLimit on action
- handicapImposed competitive disadvantage
encumbrance · deterrent · inhibition · restraint · curb · check · drag · brake · fetter · interference
delay
Enforced waiting period
regression · misstep · mishap · blunder · disappointment · derailment · detour · backslide · step backward · hiccup
- obstaclesbarriers, obstacles, barrier, hurdles, constraint
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, hit a snag
- annoyancesannoyance, annoyances, irritations, irritation, nuisance
- life lessonslesson learned, moral, lessons learned, life lessons, parable
stumbling blocksstepping stones
Rocks enabling water passage
springboards · catalysts · enablers · facilitators · aids
stumbling blocksaids
Supportive tools or resources
assets · advantages · blessings · helps · supports
stumbling blockssmooth sailing
Untroubled progress forward
clear path · easy street · shortcuts · simplifications · conveniences
stumbling, blocks, stumble, block, stumbled, stumbles, stumbler, stumblers, blocked