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Glite Dictionary
in someone's way

in someone's way

18 3.2
Keeping someone from doing something by blocking them or causing problems
  • idiom
translation icon : en el camino de alguien
  • And he never let anything get in his way.
  • getting in anybody's way
  • stood in their way
  • want to get in anybody's way

Examples

Synonyms

in the way
vsin someone's way
519 2.4

Something that stops progress or blocks movement

prevents a person from doing something by posing an obstacle
obstructive
vsin someone's way
6 6.2

Making movement or progress difficult by blocking the way

is a temporary obstacle that directly stops a person's action

Antonyms

help
∞ 1.0

An act that makes something easier for someone

to facilitate
  • Formal
187 4.9

To make a task or process easier and help it happen

How Obstructive

to prevent
∞ 2.3
to block
∞ 3.0
to obstruct
119 5.1
in someone's way
18 3.2
to hinder
75 3.6

Surface Forms

in someone's way positive

Morphology

in + someone's + way

The meaning is directly derivable from the parts: 'in' (location) + 'someone's' (possessive) + 'way' (route/path), so a B1 learner who knows the words can infer being located on or blocking someone's path. Although it can be used figuratively (hindering progress), that extension is predictable from the literal spatial composition, making the phrase transparent.

Etymology

In someone's way comes from the simple picture of a person or object standing in a path or doorway so you cannot pass. When something is literally in your way it stops you, so the phrase now means 'preventing someone from doing something'.