face a lot of obstacles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "face a lot of obstacles" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing challenges or difficulties encountered in various situations, such as personal endeavors, projects, or journeys. Example: "Throughout her career, she had to face a lot of obstacles, but she persevered and achieved her goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

They had to face a lot of obstacles".

The New York Times - Arts

"We will face a lot of obstacles," said Qaddura Fares, a veteran Fatah leader in the West Bank and chairman of the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, an advocacy organization that monitors human rights in Israeli jails.

The New York Times

"Which side are you on?" "On one side there are working families, middle-class families, and they face a lot of obstacles; and on other side there are a lot of powerful interests who misuse the campaign finance system to wield more influence than they should," he declared.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

They wanted to fly years ago and faced a lot of obstacles, but he's a brave entrepreneur and I hope he succeeds.

The Guardian

"We have faced a lot of obstacles in bringing his story to the big screen despite the success of the play at the Bolton Octagon, which played to full houses in a three week run," he says.

The Guardian - Sport

"There's just a lot of obstacles out there.

The New York Times - Sports

"We've overcome a lot of obstacles," Utley said.

The New York Times

"We had to overcome a lot of obstacles".

The New York Times - Sports

So we had a lot of obstacles to overcome this year".

The New York Times - Sports

Despite "a lot of obstacles," he said, "I have persevered".

The New York Times

You have got a lot levels, a lot of obstacles you got to get over.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "face a lot of obstacles", be specific about the nature of these obstacles to provide clarity and context. Instead of saying "The project faced a lot of obstacles", try "The project faced a lot of obstacles, including budget cuts and personnel shortages."

Common error

Avoid using "face a lot of obstacles" as a vague statement without providing any specifics. This can leave the reader uninformed and the writing less impactful. Always aim to provide context or examples of the obstacles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "face a lot of obstacles" functions as a verb phrase, where "face" is the verb indicating the action of encountering, and "a lot of obstacles" is the noun phrase representing the challenges encountered. As shown in examples provided by Ludwig, this phrase is used to describe situations where individuals or entities encounter significant difficulties.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "face a lot of obstacles" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe encountering numerous challenges. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. To use it effectively, be specific about the obstacles to enhance clarity. Related phrases include "encounter numerous hurdles" and "confront many challenges", offering alternative ways to express the same idea. While the phrase is versatile, avoid vagueness by providing context to your reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encounter numerous hurdles

Replaces "face" with "encounter" and "obstacles" with "hurdles", implying challenges that need to be overcome.

confront many challenges

Substitutes "face" with "confront" and "obstacles" with "challenges", suggesting a direct engagement with difficulties.

grapple with significant difficulties

Emphasizes a struggle with serious problems by using "grapple with" and "significant difficulties".

contend with considerable setbacks

Highlights the presence of setbacks using "contend with" and "considerable setbacks".

navigate a series of impediments

Implies a journey through difficulties by using "navigate" and "impediments".

overcome substantial barriers

Focuses on conquering challenges with "overcome" and "substantial barriers".

deal with major adversities

Suggests handling tough situations with "deal with" and "major adversities".

meet with stiff resistance

Highlights opposition by using "meet with" and "stiff resistance".

struggle against formidable odds

Emphasizes a fight against strong disadvantages with "struggle against" and "formidable odds".

be beset by numerous problems

Indicates being surrounded by issues using "be beset by" and "numerous problems".

FAQs

How can I rephrase "face a lot of obstacles" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "encounter numerous hurdles" or "contend with considerable setbacks", which convey a similar meaning with elevated vocabulary.

What's a simpler way to say "face a lot of obstacles"?

Simpler alternatives include "meet many challenges" or "deal with problems", which are more direct and easier to understand.

Is it correct to say "faced a lot of obstacles" instead of "face a lot of obstacles"?

Yes, "faced a lot of obstacles" is the past tense form and is correct when referring to challenges that were encountered in the past. The choice between "face" and "faced" depends on the tense of your sentence.

How does "face a lot of obstacles" differ from "overcome a lot of obstacles"?

"Face a lot of obstacles" implies encountering challenges, while "overcome a lot of obstacles" suggests successfully dealing with and resolving those challenges. The latter indicates a sense of achievement.