in the way of

in the way of (someone or something)

1. Obstructing someone or interfering in something. Ugh, the neighbor always puts his trash cans in the way of my car. She's so determined that I just know nothing will get in the way of her plans to finish her thesis. You can come into the kitchen to observe, but please try not to get in the way of my cooking.

2. Relating to a broad group or category of something. I don't think this store has much in the way of spices, unfortunately. I'm looking for something in the way of an SVU. How do you like yours? A: "There's not much here in the way of books I can use." B: "Yeah, because your term paper's due in a week, and your classmates have cleared everything out on the topic!"

See also: of, way

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

in the way of someone

('s plans) Go to in someone's way.

See also: of, way

in the way of something

as a kind of something; as a style of something. What do you have in the way of dress shoes? We have nothing in the way of raincoats.

See also: of, way

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.