hurdle

/hˈɜːdə‍l/

/ˈhɝdəɫ/

to hurdle

MAIN VERB

jump a hurdle

Hurdle

a type of barrier used in some races that athletes must jump over in order to continue competing

the act of jumping over an obstacle

synonyms : vault

a difficulty or problem that must be overcome in order to achieve something

Examples

1. The new restaurant fell at the first hurdle when it received a terrible review in the local newspaper, causing a sharp drop in business.

2. The athlete fell at the first hurdle of the race, ending his chances of winning a medal.

3. The company was in negotiations to sign a major contract, but they fell at the last hurdle when the other party backed out at the last minute.

4. The team had worked hard all season and had a chance to win the championship, but they fell at the last hurdle and lost the final game.