[Grammar] When I was younger, I had an ego. But it gets in the way.

[kadioguy]

When I was younger, I had an ego. But it gets in the way. —Anthony Hopkins, actor

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1. Does the blue part mean:

Making it more difficult for a person to do something : preventing something from happening.

https://learnersdictionary.com/definition/in the way

2. Why is "get" used in the present tense, rather than in the past? He says, "I had an ego".

3. I don't understand what he says. Could you tell me?

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(Source)

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

"When I was younger, I had an ego. But it gets in the way."—Anthony Hopkins, actor

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1. Does the blue part mean:

Making it more difficult for a person to do something[no space]: preventing something from happening.

Yes. Having an ego interfered with his acting work.

2. Why is "get" used in the present tense, rather than in the past? He says, "I had an ego".

Because he's stating a general truth: Having a big ego can get in the way of a successful career.

3. I don't understand what he says. Could you tell me?

He had a big ego. He learned humility. Why? Because having a big ego held back his career.

You answered your own question in part 1. Are you still stuck?

 

[Tdol]

Mind you, the idea that Anthony Hopkins learned humility or doesn't still have an ego is risible. He literally doesn't know whether his estranged daughter has children or where she lives. He did stop drinking, though. He was good as Odin in the Thor movies.

 

[emsr2d2]

Off topic - As far as I'm concerned, anyone who can bring Hannibal Lecter to life in such a terrifying way has every right to have an inflated ego (at least as far as his acting goes)!

 

[Tdol]

Yeah, but it was Jodie Foster who set the film alight.