Meaning & use
bump in the road
Last updated
Meanings
phraseidiomfigurative
a small problem or difficulty that temporarily slows progress but is not serious
Grammar: Used as a countable noun phrase; often with 'just', 'only', or 'minor'.
Patterns
- a bump in the road
- just a bump in the road
- hit a bump in the road
Losing that client was just a bump in the road for the company.
Every relationship has its bumps in the road.
The delay is only a bump in the road; we'll still finish on time.
phraseidiom
a raised area on a road surface that makes a vehicle shake
Grammar: Literal meaning; often used in the plural 'bumps in the road'.
Patterns
- a bump in the road
- hit a bump in the road
The car hit a bump in the road and we all bounced.
There are several bumps in the road near the bridge.
Common combinations
- just a bump in the road
- Don't worry about the criticism; it's just a bump in the road.
- hit a bump in the road
- The project hit a bump in the road when the funding was delayed.
- a minor bump in the road
- The injury was a minor bump in the road for the team.
- bumps in the road
- They've had a few bumps in the road, but they're still together.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hiccup
- Informal; a small problem that causes a brief delay, similar to 'bump in the road' but often used for temporary interruptions.
- setback
- Stronger; a problem that delays progress, but 'setback' can be more serious than a bump in the road.
- obstacle
- More formal; something that blocks progress, not just a minor difficulty.
Commonly confused: bump in the road or speed bump?
bump in the road vs speed bump
A raised strip across a road that forces drivers to slow down; it's a physical object, not a metaphor for a problem.
Practice
The company's sales dropped slightly last month, but the CEO said it was just a ___.
Choose one answer.
'Bump in the road' fits because it means a small, temporary problem. 'Roadblock' suggests a more serious obstacle that stops progress completely.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bump in the road”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.