tripping over

Foot snags something

Tripping over is stumbling or catching one's foot on an obstacle: I keep tripping over the dog.

The phrase extends to any accidental collision while moving: She tripped over a crack in the sidewalk.

Figuratively, to trip over something is to be hindered by an unexpected difficulty: The proposal kept tripping over bureaucratic hurdles.

Related
  • tumbleUncontrolled rolling descent
  • snagUnforeseen complication
  • misstepError in action or judgment
  • slipMinor error or misstep
  • obstacleSomething blocking the way

crack · uneven pavement · fall · stagger · topple · threshold · curb · totter · rug · shoelace · banana peel · balance · root · lurch · wobble · debris · flail · tripwire

Opposites
movement control

tripping overgliding

Engineless aerial movement

light-footed · sauntering · dancing · prancing

obstacle interaction

tripping oversidestepping

Moving aside to avoid

avoiding · clearing · dodging · hurdling · circumventing

movement outcome

tripping oversmooth sailing

Untroubled progress forward

Family

over, trip, triple, overthrow, trips, oversight, tripping, overflow, turnover

Familiarity
Top 20,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G