overcome

[Ju1ian]

Dear Teacher,

"She overcame her anxiety disorder by meditation."
I think this is fine.

But how about these? Are they proper English?
"Meditation overcame her anxiery disorder."
"A cup of coffee overcame her sleepiness."
"Good old hard work overcame her financial crisis."

I feel that meditation, coffee, and hard work are just "means" of overcoming something and they cannot be the "subject" of the verb "overcome" (i.e. the subject must be "she"). But I can't be sure. Please help.

 

[emsr2d2]

Dear Teacher,

"She overcame her anxiety disorder by meditation."
I think this is fine.

But how about these? Are they proper English?
"Meditation overcame her anxiery disorder."
"A cup of coffee overcame her sleepiness."
"Good old hard work overcame her financial crisis."

I feel that meditation, coffee, and hard work are just "means" of overcoming something and they cannot be the "subject" of the verb "overcome" (i.e. the subject must be "she"). But I can't be sure. Please help.

You're right. It is the person who overcomes a problem. The method they choose is just that - the method to help them to overcome it.