His decision gives Democrats a 59-seat majority, one short of the 60 necessary to overcome Republican attempts to block legislation.

VOA: standard.2009.04.28

It violates gravity, but six-month-olds aren't smart enough to know that a block just stuck over here is also surprising.

因为它违背了地心引力,但六个月大的婴儿还是不够聪明,他们没能发觉突出的木块也是令人惊奇的

耶鲁公开课 - 心理学导论课程节选

Milton's own faculty of memory - this is the idea that I'm going to be floating here - seems to provide something like, or pose a stumbling block or an obstacle for, his attempt to write an original, divinely inspired poem.

在这里我想说,弥尔顿自己的记忆系统,似乎想提供某种东西，或者想在他写出一部原创的，伟大的诗作的尝试上设置一个障碍。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选

A key stumbling block was Kirkuk. Ethnic Kurds would like to see the oil-rich city under the control of the Kurdistan Regional Government.

VOA: standard.2009.11.09

In light of threats from the Israelis to block the flotilla of ships, Zehra Ozturk says she and her fellow pro-Palestinian activists from Turkey are not thinking about a blockade.

VOA: standard.2010.05.28

Members of a far-left minority party surrounded trade committee Chairman Park Jin's podium and tried to physically block a vote to advance the trade deal to a full ratification vote.

VOA: standard.2009.04.22

And,it is threatening to block what little cross-border traffic exists.

VOA: standard.2010.05.26

While in opposition, the Democratic Party of Japan tried to block the country's Indian Ocean refueling mission for U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan, but agreed not to disrupt the mission before it expires in January.

VOA: standard.2009.08.31

The 60-vote advantage is also important because it will make it far more difficult for Republicans to block passage of bills through a filibuster, in which senators tie up the floor in long speeches to prevent a vote.

VOA: standard.2009.06.30