Distinct handicap
/dɪˈstɪŋkt ˈhændɪkæp/
B2
Definition
The phrase "distinct handicap" describes a specific and easily seen problem or difficulty that causes someone or something to be less able or less successful in a situation. "Distinct" means clear and different from others, and "handicap" means a disadvantage or challenge that makes tasks harder.
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⚡ See It in Action
A clear and obvious difficulty or disadvantage
- •His distinct handicap made it hard for him to compete with others.
- •The company faced a distinct handicap in the market because of its old technology.
- •She overcame her distinct handicap through hard work and support.
A specific challenge that sets someone or something apart
- •The athlete’s distinct handicap was her height, which affected her performance.
- •In the game, a distinct handicap was given to balance the players’ skills.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "distinct" like "clear" or "different," and "handicap" like "problem" or "difficulty." Together, it means a problem that is easy to see and separate from others.
- ✓Picture a runner in a race who has a clear weight tied to their leg — this weight is a distinct handicap because you can see it and it makes running harder.
- ✓It feels like when you try to do something but have a clear obstacle that slows you down or makes it more difficult.
- ✓Sounds like "dis-TINKT HAND-ih-cap" → Imagine a bright sign pointing out the problem (distinct) and a heavy backpack slowing you down (handicap).
- ✓Think of a character in a story who has a clear weakness everyone notices, like a knight with one broken arm — that is their distinct handicap.
- ✓NOT like a small or hidden problem — this handicap is noticeable and important.
- ✓NOT like "advantage" — a handicap is a difficulty, not a help.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Clear disadvantage: an obvious difficulty (Use when you want to emphasize how obvious the difficulty is)
- •Noticeable challenge: a difficulty that can be seen or felt (Use when focusing on the challenge aspect)
- •Obvious obstacle: a clear thing that blocks progress (Use when talking about something that stops or slows down progress)
🔍 Unboxing
- •"distinct": from Latin "distinctus," meaning separate or clearly different
- •"handicap": originally from a 17th-century English game where a disadvantage was given to balance chances, now means any difficulty or disadvantage
- •The phrase combines an adjective meaning "clear and different" with a noun meaning "difficulty or disadvantage"
- •Used in many contexts like sports, business, or personal challenges to describe clear difficulties
- •Modern usage often highlights something that is easy to see and affects performance or success
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can a distinct handicap sometimes become a strength? How might that happen?
•How do people react differently when a handicap is distinct versus hidden?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The team's distinct handicap was ___ equipment, which made competing difficult.
2.When someone has a distinct handicap, it usually means the problem is ___ to others.
3.Unlike a small issue, a distinct handicap ___ the person's ability to perform well.
4.In some sports, a distinct handicap is given ___ to make the game fair.
5.She worked hard to overcome her distinct handicap and ___ success.
6.A distinct handicap is different from a hidden problem because it is ___ and clear.
7.The company’s distinct handicap in the market was ___ outdated technology and poor marketing.