be climbed over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be climbed over" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an action where something is being ascended or traversed by climbing over it, often referring to physical objects or obstacles. Example: "The fence was so low that it could easily be climbed over by anyone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Injuries to other back-row candidates have played their part while plenty of bodies still remain to be climbed over, notably his club-mate Teimana Harrison, before Wood makes the starting XV to face South Africa on 12 November.

The Guardian - Sport

A blocky orange-painted sculpture by Bjorn Amelan stretches across the stage, serving as a table and a series of pedestals to be climbed over and performed on, like Moses' mountain.

The New York Times - Arts

Make sure your pool or property is completely surrounded by fencing that cannot be climbed over and has a self-closing and self-latching gate.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

He shows his audience a clip from a James Bond movie in which a large, hairy spider is climbing over our hero's naked body.

The Economist

In the words of Pavin Chachavalpongpun of Kyoto University, Mr Thaksin appeared to be climbing over dead bodies to come home.

The Economist

I choose to stay on my back, with my arms folded over my chest, but that makes it impossible to banish thoughts of mummies and coffins -- except that I imagine few people would be climbing over my coffin.

The New York Times - Travel

People are STILL going to be climbing over each other for MONTHS — probably close to a year — to get a first-generation iPhone, and then *poof*, a new product will be on the shelves with new features.

TechCrunch

This week they started picketing recruitment offices while raising a strike fund that's climbed over £10,000.

Vice

People were climbing over one another just to breathe.

Independent

Gould is climbing over Bach's construction, clambering over the whole.

The New York Times - Magazine

"All these people with their bundles, everything they could carry, were climbing over the girders.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be climbed over" when describing a physical barrier or obstacle that needs to be ascended to reach a destination or achieve a goal.

Common error

Avoid using "be climbed over" in purely abstract contexts where a more appropriate metaphor like "be overcome" or "be surpassed" would be more fitting. "Be climbed over" implies a physical ascent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be climbed over" functions as a passive verb phrase. It describes an object or obstacle that is acted upon by someone or something performing the act of climbing. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be climbed over" is a grammatically correct and usable passive verb phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's primarily used to describe a physical action of ascending an object, typically an obstacle or barrier. While not overly common, with only a few examples discovered, it finds usage in news, wiki, and formal contexts. When writing, ensure you intend to describe a literal or figurative climbing action. For abstract scenarios, consider alternatives like "be overcome" or "be surpassed" for greater clarity. Remember, accurate application hinges on understanding its proper physical or metaphorical implications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be scaled

Emphasizes the act of ascending, often implying a significant height or difficulty.

be traversed

Focuses on the act of crossing or traveling over something.

be surmounted

Highlights overcoming an obstacle or challenge.

be clambered over

Similar to scrambled over, but may imply more effort or difficulty.

be scrambled over

Suggests a hurried or unorganized ascent.

be passed over

Focuses on moving beyond or ignoring something, either literally or figuratively.

be conquered

Emphasizes overcoming a significant challenge or obstacle.

be gone over

Implies a thorough review or examination, not necessarily a physical ascent.

be stepped over

Similar to walked over, implying a lack of importance or consideration.

be walked over

Suggests disrespect or disregard, rather than a literal climbing action.

FAQs

How can I use "be climbed over" in a sentence?

You can use "be climbed over" to describe a physical barrier that needs ascending, such as "The wall needed to be climbed over to escape".

What's a good alternative to "be climbed over"?

Alternatives include "be scaled", "be surmounted", or "be traversed" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "needs be climbed over"?

While grammatically understandable, "needs be climbed over" is less common and sounds archaic. It's better to use "needs to be climbed over" or "must be climbed over".

What does it mean when someone says opportunities "be climbed over"?

Figuratively, if someone says opportunities "be climbed over", it suggests intense competition and that one must aggressively pursue and overcome others to achieve success. For example, one must "be better than" your competition in order to "get the job".