challenge to cross

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "challenge to cross" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an obstacle or difficulty that one must overcome in order to proceed or achieve something. Example: "The challenge to cross the river during the storm tested the team's resolve and determination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Piutau dropped the ball and the Exeter No8 Don Armand swerved out of Matt Mullan's challenge to cross only for the referee, Greg Garner, to check on a suspected knock-on by Nowell.

The Guardian - Sport

The Cherry and Whites showed their intent early on, going ahead through a fourth-minute Burns penalty before May cut inside full-back Alex Goode's weak challenge to cross over.

BBC

However, many of us have come to realize that in spite of all the rhetorical support for interdisciplinary global health research, it remains a challenge to cross the boundaries between normative and empirical disciplines.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But from the opening chorus, in which American pilots are heartily challenged to cross the Atlantic, Brecht also puts a mock-heroic twist on the tale.

The New York Times

Failure to implement a formal organization structure with professional manpower will pose challenges to cross chasm 4 (Anonymous 1984).

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

After the break, Ta'ai collected a short pass from Brough and effortlessly shrugged off two challenges to cross for Giants' second try, with the Scotland World Cup half-back converting.

BBC

Highlights include Isaac Julien's nine-screen interactive video installation 'Ten Thousand Waves', shot in China and featuring Maggie Cheung, and William Forsythe's 'The Fact of Matter', which challenges visitors to cross the gallery without touching the floor, using 200 gymnastics rings suspended from the ceiling.

Independent

The challenge was to cross the longest highwire in the world, a 1km line, 80 feet in the air, set up across the Han River.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hey everyone, I am on a new travel project right now after I wrote about "How to Travel the World for Free!" This time my challenge is to cross Germany on a kids' scooter.

Huffington Post

In practice, cities have to cope with both adaptation and mitigation, and are challenged to seek cross-linkages, to design 'no regret options' (such as 'green roofs') and other solutions with 'co-benefits'.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

There are many challenges to cross-species comparative genomics that include the dog, including incomplete gene annotation and the lack of methodologies for orthologous gene assessment.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "challenge to cross" when you want to emphasize the difficulty of overcoming a specific barrier, whether it's physical, metaphorical, or conceptual. Consider alternatives if a simpler or more direct expression is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "challenge to cross" in overly simplistic situations where a more direct phrase like "difficulty" or "obstacle" would suffice. Overusing complex phrasing can make your writing sound pretentious or unclear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "challenge to cross" functions as a noun phrase followed by an infinitive phrase, indicating a specific difficulty that needs to be overcome to achieve a certain goal. The infinitive phrase "to cross" modifies "challenge", specifying the nature of the difficulty.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "challenge to cross" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, though relatively uncommon. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its use in contexts involving obstacles and difficulties. It functions as a noun phrase followed by an infinitive, denoting a specific hurdle that requires effort to overcome. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, simpler alternatives like "obstacle to overcome" may be more appropriate in certain situations. When using the expression, be mindful not to overuse it in overly simplistic contexts. Also, note that the Ludwig AI found that the phrase can be used in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obstacle to overcome

Replaces "challenge" with "obstacle" focusing on the impedance aspect of the task.

difficulty to surmount

Substitutes "challenge" with "difficulty" and "cross" with "surmount", highlighting the effort needed.

hurdle to clear

Emphasizes the action of overcoming a barrier, like in a race.

impediment to bypass

Focuses on the hindering nature of the challenge and the need to avoid it.

roadblock to navigate

Presents the challenge as an obstacle on a journey, requiring careful handling.

problem to tackle

Replaces the spatial "cross" with the idea of directly confronting an issue.

test to pass

Frames the challenge as an evaluation of one's abilities.

task to conquer

Emphasizes the need to overcome and dominate the challenge.

mission to accomplish

Highlights the goal-oriented aspect of overcoming the challenge.

endeavor to complete

Focuses on the effort required to finish the task despite difficulties.

FAQs

How can I use "challenge to cross" in a sentence?

You can use "challenge to cross" when describing an obstacle or difficulty that needs to be overcome. For example, "The biggest challenge to cross in this project is securing funding".

What can I say instead of "challenge to cross"?

Alternatives to "challenge to cross" include "obstacle to overcome", "difficulty to surmount", or "hurdle to clear" depending on the specific context.

Is "challenge to cross" formal or informal?

"Challenge to cross" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though the specific situation should guide your choice. In very casual settings, a simpler phrase might be preferable.

What is the difference between "challenge to cross" and "obstacle to overcome"?

While similar, "challenge to cross" often implies a more active effort to traverse something, whereas "obstacle to overcome" can be more general, referring to any barrier needing resolution.