to get in the way
206
3.3
- phrasal verb
:
impedir
- A focus on ensuring public recognition of one's legacy can get in the way of achieving it.
- problems get in the way
- often gets in the way
- facts get in the way
The first is nothing should get in the way of making content.
- The first is nothing should get in the way of making content.
- And so often that gets in the way of a decent person.
- Do you find that alcohol got in the way for you?
- So my parents, they never got in the way other than comments.
- These are the very interactions that get in the way of large scale social change.
- Is it a thing that gets in the way or is it a good thing?
- Which could get in the way of a movie or a television show.
Examples
-
And yet, he could not allow his feelings to get in the way of his duty.
Fiction book (1991) -
So this thing pretty much got in the way.
-
The first is nothing should get in the way of making content.
-
It's the things that get in the way of the important things.
-
A lot of that stuff got in the way of the work being good.
-
Which could get in the way of a movie or a television show.
-
The pursuit of tenure often gets in the way of effective teaching.
Academic text (2006) -
Life, in fact, has an uncanny way of getting in the way of writing.
Academic text (2008) -
My fears about the presentation got in the way of my performance.
-
Don't let minor issues get in the way of your goals.
Synonyms
∞
3.0
To stop movement, access, or progress
487
3.5
To get involved in a situation and make things not work as they should
119
5.1
To block a path or view
75
3.6
To make it difficult for people or things to do something
35
6.5
To slow the progress or movement of people and things
5
8.0
To stop or slow progress
4
3.8
To stop movement through a road, pipe, or path
1
3.4
Stop someone from reaching their goal
To stop someone on purpose from doing what they planned
Antonyms
How Obstructive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to prevent or obstruct' follows directly from combining 'get' (to move or come) + 'in' (into) + 'the way' (the path/route), so a learner who knows each word can infer someone or something coming into the path and blocking it. This spatial composition readily extends to metaphorical obstruction and is a common, cross-linguistic pattern, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Get in the way gives a simple image: something or someone steps into a path and blocks it. That's why it now means 'to prevent' or 'to stop' someone or something from moving forward or happening.