clear the barrier

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clear the barrier" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where one needs to remove obstacles or challenges, either literally or metaphorically. Example: "To achieve our goals, we must first clear the barrier that is holding us back."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"They asked me to come and clear the barrier".

The New York Times

Piazza joined Houston's Lance Berkman and St . Louiss Albert Pujols as the only players to clear the barrier, erected last season after the center-field wall was brought in 10 feet to accommodate construction on the new stadium.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The BBC News website spoke to two people who had faced similar hurdles, but only one of whom had managed to clear the barriers.

BBC

Clear the barriers that keep women and girls around the world from reaching their full potential.

Huffington Post

Just two of these policies make clear the barriers put in the way of family connections.

Huffington Post

She turned away from the stage and charged toward the net, clearing the barrier without any problem.

Huffington Post

The journalist Shiv Malik also reports of disturbances outside Westminster: Protesters have cleared the barriers outside the Houses of Parliament and 200 of them are now staging a sit-down protest.

The Guardian

The caravan was towed into a car park at Waterhay lake, part of the Cotswold Water Park (CWP), but burst open when it failed to clear the height barrier.

BBC

Hundreds of police stormed the city's Taksim Square, the epicenter of nearly two weeks of unrest, in the early morning and brought bulldozers to clear the makeshift barriers erected by demonstrators after police pulled out of the area on June 1.

Huffington Post

For wallet and merchant services, it is less clear what the barriers to entry will be.

TechCrunch

It is also clear that the barriers to be overcome at this stage are mainly conceptual and to a certain degree of a technical nature (Table 1).

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "clear the barrier" metaphorically, ensure the context makes the figurative meaning clear. For example, specify what the barrier represents, such as "clear the financial barrier" or "clear the communication barrier."

Common error

Avoid using "clear the barrier" when a simpler verb like "remove" or "eliminate" is more direct and appropriate. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clear the barrier" functions as a verb phrase. It describes the action of removing an obstacle or overcoming a challenge. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "clear the barrier" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe the removal or overcoming of obstacles, as validated by Ludwig AI. Although its occurrence is relatively uncommon, its meaning is clear and its applications are versatile, spanning from literal obstructions to figurative challenges. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts. To enhance clarity in writing, it is advisable to specify the type of barrier being addressed. While alternatives such as "remove the obstacle" or "overcome the challenge" exist, "clear the barrier" remains a suitable and effective choice when used appropriately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remove the obstacle

Focuses on the act of taking something away that impedes progress.

overcome the obstacle

Highlights the effort and success in dealing with a hindrance.

eliminate the impediment

Emphasizes a complete removal of something that delays or prevents progress.

bypass the hurdle

Suggests avoiding a problem rather than directly confronting it.

break through the obstacle

Implies a forceful overcoming of a significant challenge.

get past the barrier

Indicates a successful movement beyond a limiting factor.

surmount the difficulty

Stresses the triumph over a challenging situation.

resolve the issue

Centers on finding a solution to a problem that blocks progress.

address the challenge

Highlights the act of dealing with a difficult situation directly.

mitigate the obstruction

Suggests lessening the impact of something that hinders progress.

FAQs

What does "clear the barrier" mean?

The phrase "clear the barrier" typically means to overcome an obstacle or remove an impediment that is preventing progress or success. It can be used literally or figuratively.

What can I say instead of "clear the barrier"?

You can use alternatives like "remove the obstacle", "overcome the challenge", or "eliminate the impediment" depending on the specific context.

How can I use "clear the barrier" in a sentence?

You can use "clear the barrier" in a sentence like: "In order to launch the new product successfully, we must first clear the regulatory barriers." Or: "The athlete needed to clear the barrier to win the race."

Is it better to say "clear the barrier" or "overcome the barrier"?

Both "clear the barrier" and "overcome the barrier" are correct and usable. "Overcome the barrier" might suggest a more active effort to deal with a difficult obstacle, while "clear the barrier" can imply simply removing it.