roadblock
B2Neutral to Formal (Literal); Neutral (Figurative)
Definition
Meaning
A physical barrier set up to block a road, typically used by authorities to stop and inspect vehicles.
Anything that hinders or prevents progress, functioning as a significant obstacle or impediment in a process, plan, or activity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. The figurative sense is now very common. When literal, it implies a deliberate, often official, act of obstruction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term with the same core and extended meanings. 'Roadblock' is the standard term. Alternative terms like 'road closure' or 'checkpoint' might be used for specific literal instances.
Connotations
Neutral/negative in both. Literal use implies police/military action; figurative implies frustration and halted progress.
Frequency
Very common in both varieties, with the figurative use being extremely frequent in all forms of discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + roadblock (face/encounter/remove)roadblock + [preposition] + [noun] (roadblock to progress)roadblock + [verb] (roadblock stopped/halted...)ADJ + roadblock (major/serious roadblock)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hit a roadblock.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'Budget cuts presented a major roadblock to the project's expansion.'
Academic
'The researcher encountered a methodological roadblock that required a new approach.'
Everyday
'We hit a roadblock when the car broke down on the motorway.'
Technical
'The software update failed due to a compatibility roadblock in the legacy code.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Protesters threatened to roadblock the M25 motorway.
- The festival was almost roadblocked by local council objections.
American English
- The police will roadblock Main Street for the parade.
- Their strategy was roadblocked by a sudden change in regulations.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form. Concept expressed via verbs/adjectives: 'progress stopped roadblock-style').
American English
- (No standard adverbial form.)
adjective
British English
- They implemented a roadblock policy for unscheduled vehicles.
- (Rare as a standalone adjective; usually compound noun modifier: 'roadblock situation').
American English
- The senator took a roadblock stance on the new bill.
- (Rare as a standalone adjective).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The police put a roadblock on the street.
- A fallen tree was a roadblock for the cars.
- We couldn't continue our journey because of a roadblock.
- Lack of money is often a roadblock for new businesses.
- Negotiations hit a roadblock when neither side would compromise on the core issue.
- The investigation faced a legal roadblock regarding access to the documents.
- The team's innovative approach circumvented the bureaucratic roadblocks that had stalled previous initiatives.
- Her ideological roadblock prevented her from engaging with any evidence that contradicted her worldview.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture a ROAD that is BLOCKed by police cars. Anything that BLOCKS your path on the ROAD of progress is a ROADBLOCK.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS A JOURNEY / ACHIEVING A GOAL IS REACHING A DESTINATION. An obstacle on that journey is a ROADBLOCK.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'дорожный блок' – not used.
- Literal: 'блокпост' (checkpoint), 'заграждение' (barricade).
- Figurative: 'препятствие', 'помеха', 'затор' (traffic jam context).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'roadblock' as a verb without the correct phrasal form 'roadblocked' (less common).
- Confusing with 'roadworks' (planned construction) which slow traffic but don't necessarily block it completely.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'roadblock' used in a PURELY literal sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A roadblock stops or severely restricts passage, forcing a stop or search. A detour redirects traffic onto an alternative route around an obstruction; passage continues, just by a different path.
Yes, but it's less common than the noun. It means 'to block with a roadblock' or 'to obstruct'. The past tense/passive is 'roadblocked' (e.g., 'The highway was roadblocked').
It is accepted in neutral and formal contexts (business, academic writing). It is a standard metaphorical extension and not considered informal slang.
'Stumbling block' is a very close synonym for a figurative obstacle. 'Bottleneck' is also close but implies a narrowing that slows progress rather than a complete stop.