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wall

wall

275 5.1
A situation that stops progress or makes it hard to continue
  • noun
  • /wɔl/
: barrera
  • We need to get you through the walls, so that you can open the door.
  • hit a wall
  • break down the walls
  • invisible walls

He's breaking down the walls now with this we have.

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Examples

  • Many employees feel that the lack of communication is a wall that prevents teamwork and collaboration.

  • It's like a wall between us.

  • If there is no wall, there is no deal.

  • It's like building a wall between you and your heart.

    GQ
  • When she tried to think, she came to a wall that stopped her mind.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • When you hit a brick wall, knock it down.

  • Even with all of this history, it's like there's an invisible wall around the college.

    Academic text (2017)
  • We've got our backs to the wall.

  • When the negotiations stalled, it felt like we had hit a wall that made further progress impossible.

  • The constant misunderstandings have created a wall between friends who used to be close.

Synonyms

obstacle
vswall
298 3.4

A thing or problem that makes it hard to reach a goal

is used more widely and also applies to communication problems
barrier
vswall
172 2.8

A thing that blocks movement or keeps places apart

is broader and names situations that hinder progress or communication
obstruction
vswall
142 4.8

Something that stops or slows progress and makes a task hard

is a general condition that can include communication issues
curtain
vswall
84 6.1

A layer that blocks sight or hides information

is used more broadly for any hindrance not only sight or talk
brick wall
vswall
  • Informal
46 4.1

A problem you cannot get past

is a less absolute hindrance not necessarily unbeatable
roadblock
vswall
32 3.9

A problem that stops progress or makes a goal hard to reach

is a broader term not limited to physical conditions
20 4.4

A problem that stops progress or makes moving forward difficult

is used for wider hindering situations beyond single problems
13 4.2

Difficulty communicating because people do not share a common language

is more general and applies beyond differences in speech
wall of silence
vswall
  • Literature
6 7.2

A group's choice to stay silent to protect members from blame

is a broader term for many hindrances not only group secrecy
Chinese Wall
vswall
  • Jargon
1 8.9

A rule to keep people in different teams from sharing secret information to avoid conflicts of interest

is a general blocking idea not limited to formal internal rules
1 3.9

Something that stops a project or work from moving forward

is more general and also applies to communication difficulties
1 8.1

An obstacle to talking and working together because people have different beliefs or values

is a general hindrance that can be practical rather than belief based

Antonyms

∞ 2.6

The right to enter and use something like a building or online service

facilitation
  • Formal
7 5.1

An action that makes a task easier so it runs more smoothly

Idioms

24 5.5

A clear sign that something bad will happen

A person who watches a situation without being noticed

balls to the wall
  • Offensive
4 9.4

Do something with as much speed and effort as possible, without holding back

4 8.1

To speak to someone who does not respond or listen

back to the wall
  • Informal
3 7.6

In a situation with very few choices where you must try hard to survive or win

2 7.0

To try to speak to someone who will not listen or answer

1 6.6

To stand up for someone when they are in trouble

Try many different ideas to see which one works

To try many different ideas to find one that works

To try many times to do something without success and feel frustrated

To spend money carelessly and waste it

To decide to start something difficult and not change your mind

Try many different ideas to find one that works

Compounds

Wall Street
  • Literature
569 2.7

The US financial industry, especially banks and investment firms in New York

276 3.4

A street in lower Manhattan where the New York Stock Exchange is

brick wall
  • Informal
46 4.1

A problem you cannot get past

28 2.7

A low fence made by stacking rough stones to mark boundaries or keep animals out

28 4.2

Completely full of people or things with no space to move

22 3.5

A very long ancient wall across northern China built to stop invaders

off-the-wall
  • Informal
14 8.0

Strange and often funny in a surprising way

A very long old wall in northern China built to stop attacks

8 3.6

A high wall around a prison that keeps people inside

A small hidden restaurant or cafe that looks simple but serves very good food

cell wall
  • Specialized
7 3.6

A hard layer around the cells of plants, fungi, and some bacteria that gives support and protection

wall of silence
  • Literature
6 7.2

A group's choice to stay silent to protect members from blame

retaining wall
  • Specialized
6 4.4

A wall built to hold back soil or water on one side

5 6.7

A remaining wall of the ancient Jewish temple in Jerusalem where people pray

dry wall
  • Specialized
5 5.6

A low stone wall made by fitting stones together without cement

A floor covering that reaches all walls and covers the whole room

4 1.0

A clock that hangs on a wall to show the time

blue wall
  • Jargon
3 9.0

A secret rule among police not to report a colleague's wrongdoing

3 2.9

A place in a wall where you plug in an electrical device to get power

3 2.7

A flat rectangular piece fixed to a wall to cover or decorate it

Wailing Wall
  • Archaic
3 6.7

A holy stone wall in Jerusalem where Jewish people pray and put written prayers

2 9.5

An unwritten rule among police officers not to report a colleague's illegal actions to protect them from punishment

abdominal wall
  • Specialized
2 4.1

The muscles and tissue at the front and sides of the belly that protect internal organs

bearing wall
  • Specialized
2 5.1

A wall that holds up the floor or roof above it

2 3.2

A large picture painted or printed directly on a wall to decorate it

2 3.4

A very long stone wall built across northern China to keep out attackers

load-bearing wall
  • Specialized
1 3.6

A wall that supports the floors and roof above it

blue wall
  • Literature
1 5.6

A group of states or voters that often support the same political party

A picture made directly on a wall as decoration

1 2.4

An electrical socket in a wall where you connect a device to get power

1 7.5

A line of soldiers holding shields close together to form a strong defence

1 2.8

A large piece of furniture put against a wall to store or show things

A long stone wall built by the Romans in northern England to mark their northern border

Chinese Wall
  • Jargon
1 8.9

A rule to keep people in different teams from sharing secret information to avoid conflicts of interest

1 3.2

A decorative piece like a tapestry placed on a wall

wall panel
  • Specialized
1 3.4

An electronic device fixed to a wall that controls lights, heating, or security

A wall made of stones fitted together without mortar

1 3.8

A strong piece fixed to a wall that sticks out and holds a shelf

party wall
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A wall between two houses that both owners share

1 4.5

A large camping shelter with four straight cloth walls that gives more room inside than a normal tent

1 7.3

A long horizontal piece of wood on top of a wall supporting beams

Great Wall
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A huge group of galaxies that looks like a long wall in space

1 8.2

Solid ground next to a line of minerals or a crack underground

A Roman wall across central Scotland that marks the northern border of Roman Britain

1 6.9

The triangular top part of a wall under a sloping roof

ring wall
  • Specialized
1 6.9

A circular strong wall built under a heavy structure to support its weight

ring wall
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A circular wall around a village or town that protects people from attack

wall fern
  • Specialized
1 7.6

A low fern that grows on rocks or walls in shaded moist places

1 4.4

A person who puts wallpaper on walls to decorate rooms

cavity wall
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A wall with two layers and a space between them to keep heat in and water out

A fern that grows on rocks or walls in shady places in North America and East Asia

hanging wall
  • Specialized
9.5

The block of rock above a sloping break in the ground

proscenium wall
  • Specialized
9.4

A part of a theatre that separates the stage from the audience and holds the stage opening

4.6

A low circular wall that keeps soil in place around plants

A small plant with narrow leaves and tiny pink flowers that grows in cracks in walls

A plant that lives for two years or less and has groups of bright orange-yellow flowers at stem ends

9.9

A small red and grey bird that lives on walls and cliffs

wall germander
  • Specialized
9.9

A low bush with bright pink or purple flowers grown in gardens

9.9

A small wild grass that grows like a weed along roads and walls, with bristly seed heads

wall pellitory
  • Specialized
9.9

A small plant with long leaves and tiny pink flowers that grows in cracks on old walls and rocks

9.9

A small plant that grows along the ground or walls with thick leaves and bright yellow flowers

9.9

A small fern with delicate leaves that grows on old walls and rocks

9.9

A plant with yellow flowers that grows on old walls and in empty places

A small delicate fern that grows on walls and cliffs

How Obstructive

to blockade
4 6.1
barrier
172 2.8
wall
275 5.1
obstacle
298 3.4
hurdle
99 3.8

Surface Forms

wall singular
walls plural

Etymology

Wall comes from the old English weall and Latin vallum, words for a strong 'rampart' or barrier. So when we say someone has hit a wall, we mean they have met a hard obstacle that stops progress.