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Handicap vs Obstruct - What's the difference?

handicap | obstruct |

As verbs the difference between handicap and obstruct

is that handicap is to encumber with a handicap in any contest while obstruct is to block or fill (a passage) with obstacles or an obstacle see synonyms at block.

As a noun handicap

is something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.

handicap

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Captain Edward Carlisle; he could not tell what this prisoner might do. He cursed the fate which had assigned such a duty, cursed especially that fate which forced a gallant soldier to meet so superb a woman as this under handicap so hard.
  • An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race (or other contest of skill) to the competitor possessing disadvantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success.
  • :
  • :
  • (lb) The disadvantage itself, in particular physical or mental disadvantages of people.
  • A race, for horses or men, or any contest of agility, strength, or skill, in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.
  • An old card game.
  • :(Samuel Pepys)
  • Derived terms

    * Benghazi Handicap

    Verb

    (handicapp)
  • To encumber with a handicap in any contest.
  • (by extension) To place at disadvantage.
  • The candidate was heavily handicapped .
  • To estimate betting odds.
  • Grandpa Andy would buy the racing form the day ahead of time so he could handicap the race before he even arrived at the track.

    obstruct

    English

    Verb

  • To block or fill (a passage) with obstacles or an obstacle. See Synonyms at block.
  • To impede, retard, or interfere with; hinder: obstructed my progress.
  • To get in the way of so as to hide from sight.
  • Synonyms

    * See also