obstacle himself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obstacle himself" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of words that lacks clarity and proper context. Example: "He needs to overcome the obstacle himself to achieve his goals."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Having now fought off the perceptions that he was either relentlessly downbeat or a one-trick pony, Iñárritu will now confront a different obstacle — himself, as new movies are inevitably compared to "Birdman" and its outsized success.

Los Angeles Times

It's a simple, funny and utterly charming story about a boy (Justin Long) and a girl (Evan Rachel Wood) and the huge obstacle (himself) that the boy has to overcome to get the girl.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

These difficulties are compounded by another formidable obstacle: Tom himself.

The New York Times - Books

And when he does not, like today, Clemens is an obstacle for himself.

The New York Times - Sports

He created an obstacle for himself by demanding that Israel stop expanding settlements when it was not going to do so — even though it should — and when that wasn't the most important condition to Arabs.

The New York Times

Along the way his No. 1 obstacle is himself, as he battles his own self-doubt, as when he proclaims, "She's something and I'm nothing".

Los Angeles Times

Mr. Rucci sets up too many obstacles for himself, among them the cavernous setting of the Sony Studios, which would rob any garment of human scale.

The New York Times

A generous colleague but not the passive type -- good artists aren't passive, generally -- Mr. Close has typically erected constructive obstacles for himself and his collaborators, the conquest of which can bring about something special or new.

The New York Times - Arts

But, although Fiennes's dark-suited Richard compares himself to the shape-changing Proteus, he shows little delight in role-playing: he might, to all intents and purposes, be a grim-visaged banker systematically eradicating all obstacles between himself and and the top job.

The Guardian

Haunting, traumatic, engrossing and yes - it's time for that word again - weird - are great words to describe Caesar's work; but "A Dangerous Inclination" is also a testament of triumph - a personal landscape laid bare for all to see, by one man overcoming the most difficult of obstacles -- himself.

Huffington Post

A third obstacle was Rietveld himself.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "obstacle himself". It is grammatically awkward and can be replaced with clearer and more conventional expressions like "his own worst enemy" or "self-imposed obstacle".

Common error

Don't treat "obstacle" as an adjective to describe a person directly. Instead, focus on expressing how a person's actions or qualities create the obstacle, rather than stating that they are the obstacle themselves. For example, use "He created an obstacle for himself" instead of "He is the obstacle himself".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obstacle himself" functions as a noun ("obstacle") followed by a reflexive pronoun ("himself"). However, Ludwig AI indicates this construction is grammatically incorrect. The noun "obstacle" is not correctly modified, leading to awkward phrasing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "obstacle himself" appears in some contexts, Ludwig AI analysis suggests that it is grammatically questionable and sounds awkward. Its intended meaning is to express that someone's actions or characteristics create challenges for themselves. Instead of using this construction, consider clearer alternatives such as "his own worst enemy" or "self-imposed obstacle". These alternatives are grammatically correct and more readily understood. The phrase occurs rarely, and mainly in news media contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

his own worst enemy

This idiom directly implies that someone's actions or characteristics are their biggest problem.

self-imposed obstacle

This highlights that the obstacle is created or maintained by the person themselves.

his biggest challenge

Focuses on the difficulty presented by the person's own actions or traits.

impediment he created

Emphasizes the active role of the person in generating the obstacle.

barrier he set for himself

Implies a deliberate or unintentional creation of the problem.

his own limitation

Highlights internal constraints that hinder progress.

his personal hurdle

A more figurative way of describing a challenge stemming from within.

chief impediment to his success

Highlights that the major obstacle is the person's own doing

his internal resistance

Highlights a psychological aspect that is preventing the individual from progressing

himself as the obstruction

Reverse the terms to use 'himself' and 'obstruction' as synonyms, not an adjective

FAQs

How can I rephrase "obstacle himself" to sound more natural?

Instead of "obstacle himself", consider using phrases like "his own worst enemy", "self-imposed "obstacle"", or "the biggest challenge he faces". These options provide greater clarity and grammatical correctness.

What does it mean when someone is described as their own "obstacle"?

It means that their own actions, thoughts, or behaviors are hindering their progress or success. It's a way of saying they are creating problems for themselves.

Is it grammatically correct to say someone is an "obstacle"?

While you might encounter such phrasing, it's generally better to use a more descriptive structure that clarifies how they create or contribute to the "obstacle". For example, "He is creating an obstacle for himself".

What are some common reasons why someone might be their own "obstacle"?

Common reasons include self-doubt, procrastination, poor decision-making, negative thinking, and a lack of discipline. These internal factors can prevent individuals from achieving their goals.