a lion in the way
obsolete A difficulty, obstacle, or danger impeding one's progress that causes one to immediately or prematurely abandon one's duties or ambitions. I allow that there are difficulties ahead, but whenever such a problem presents itself, do not fear it as a lion in the way and be scared of facing it head on.
a lion in the way
a danger or obstacle, especially an imaginary one. literary This expression developed from a biblical phrase in Proverbs 22:13: ‘The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets’.