Cool MateObstacle vs The one difficulty for a murderer
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Obstacle
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
The one difficulty for a murderer
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Obstacle
| Obstacle | The one difficulty for a murderer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈɒbstəkl//🇺🇸 //ˈɑbstəkl// | 🇬🇧 //ðə wʌn ˈdɪfɪkəlti fɔːr ə ˈmɜːdə//🇺🇸 //ðə wʌn ˈdɪfɪkəlti fɔr ə ˈmɜrdər// |
| Meaning | Something that makes it difficult to do something. | The main problem that a murderer faces. |
| Example | He faced many obstacles during his journey to success. | The one difficulty for a murderer is evading capture by the police. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | face an obstacle, overcome an obstacle, see an obstacle | face a difficulty, overcome a difficulty, identify a difficulty |
| Antonyms | advantage, help, facilitator | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'obstacle course' which is a specific kind of challenge., Using 'obstacles' when discussing non-physical challenges like fears or emotions., Mixing it up with 'obstruction', which often has legal connotations. | Omitting 'the one' and saying just 'difficulty for a murderer'., Using 'difficulties' instead of 'difficulty' when referring to a specific issue., Confusing the phrase with more general expressions like 'a challenge for criminals'. |
| Usage notes | Used in contexts where something hinders progress or achievement. Typically neutral; avoid in overly casual contexts. | This phrase is often used in discussions about crime and justice. It is suitable for neutral contexts but may not fit in casual or humorous conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Obstacle vs The one difficulty for a murderer
What's the difference between Obstacle and The one difficulty for a murderer?
Obstacle: Something that makes it difficult to do something. The one difficulty for a murderer: The main problem that a murderer faces.
Which is more common: Obstacle and The one difficulty for a murderer?
Obstacle is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Obstacle: He faced many obstacles during his journey to success. The one difficulty for a murderer: The one difficulty for a murderer is evading capture by the police.
Can I use Obstacle and The one difficulty for a murderer interchangeably?
Not always. Obstacle and The one difficulty for a murderer are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.