traps
traps — noun
- trapssingular
- trapsesplural
1. an object positioned or a hole dug to capture creatures or human beings and keep
an object positioned or a hole dug to capture creatures or human beings and keep them contained
The park ranger showed the children how to set a trap for rabbits without hurting them.
set a trap — to place or arrange a trap
A wild boar walked into the trap that Andrés had placed near the riverbank.
The hunter checked his traps every morning before the sun came up.
Linh warned the hikers to watch out for animal traps hidden under fallen leaves.
The old iron trap had rusted shut after sitting in the forest for years.
常見錯誤
2. a situation that seems helpful or appealing but actually puts you at risk and is
a situation that seems helpful or appealing but actually puts you at risk and is hard to get out of
Lucía realized too late that the job offer was a trap designed to steal her personal information.
be a trap — refer to a deceptive situation
Vivek warned his friend not to fall into the trap of borrowing money from loan sharks.
fall into a trap — to become caught in a deceptive situation
The company's low-interest loan turned out to be a trap with hidden fees and penalties.
Nia knew the reporter's friendly question was a trap, so she chose her words carefully.
Many young people fall into the trap of spending more than they earn on credit cards.
- escape
successfully getting out of a difficult situation
用法筆記
Often used in the pattern 'fall into the trap of + gerund' (e.g., fall into the trap of believing everything you read online).
常見錯誤
3. a person's mouth, especially when talking too much or saying something unwise
a person's mouth, especially when talking too much or saying something unwise
"Keep your trap shut!" Xiu whispered to her younger brother before the surprise party began.
keep your trap shut — informal way to tell someone to stop talking
Theo opened his trap and said something he immediately regretted at the dinner table.
The librarian gave the noisy student a stern look that clearly said "shut your trap."
Ilan knew he should keep his trap closed during the serious meeting with the boss.
Kasia's big trap always gets her into trouble when she gossips about coworkers.
用法筆記
Almost always used in fixed phrases like 'keep your trap shut' or 'shut your trap'. Considered rude or very informal; not suitable for polite conversation.
常見錯誤
4. a lightweight two-wheeled horse-drawn cart mainly used in past centuries for sho
a lightweight two-wheeled horse-drawn cart mainly used in past centuries for short journeys
The old photograph showed Ilan's grandfather driving a trap through the village market square.
drive a trap — operate a horse-drawn two-wheeled carriage
Nia enjoyed a peaceful ride in a horse-drawn trap along the countryside path.
The museum displayed a beautifully restored trap from the late nineteenth century.
Farmers used a light trap to carry vegetables from their fields to the town market.
用法筆記
This historical sense is now rare. Modern readers will most likely encounter it in historical fiction or museum descriptions.
5. a planned move in American football where a defender is let through the line on
a planned move in American football where a defender is let through the line on purpose and then blocked so the player with the ball can run ahead through the opening
The coach called a trap play on third down to gain the yards they needed for a first down.
trap play — a specific offensive tactic in American football
Darius blocked the defensive end perfectly on the trap, opening a lane for the running back.
The team practiced the trap repeatedly until every player knew their assignment by heart.
Andrew's quick execution of the trap surprised the opposing defense and gained twelve yards.
- trap block
the specific blocking technique used in a trap play
用法筆記
This term belongs to American football jargon and is not used in other sports. 'Trap' alone is enough; 'trap play' is more explicit for non-experts.
6. an abbreviated name for trap music, a hip-hop style known for deep bass and quic
an abbreviated name for trap music, a hip-hop style known for deep bass and quick hi-hat patterns that began in the southern part of the United States
Xiu loves listening to trap while she works out at the gym every evening.
listen to trap — to listen to trap music
The DJ played a mix of trap and house music that kept the crowd dancing all night.
Andrés produced his first trap beat using only a laptop and a pair of headphones.
Trap music has become popular around the world since the early two thousand tens.
用法筆記
Used mainly in informal conversation about music. The full form 'trap music' is more common in formal writing.
常見錯誤
7. personal belongings or luggage that someone carries with them when traveling
personal belongings or luggage that someone carries with them when traveling
The travelers packed their traps and headed to the train station early that morning.
pack your traps — prepare and pack personal luggage
Darius collected his traps from the hotel room and checked out before noon.
The soldiers were told to gather their traps and prepare for the long march ahead.
"Don't leave your traps behind," the guide reminded the group before they got on the bus.
- belongings
standard modern term for personal possessions
- luggage
suitcases and bags for travel
- bags
informal modern term for luggage
用法筆記
An older British informal usage. The word 'traps' meaning belongings is rare in modern spoken English and is mostly found in historical novels or set phrases like 'pack your traps.'
常見錯誤
traps — verb
- trapspresent simple I / you / we / they
- trapses3rd person singular
- trapsing-ing form
- trapsedpast simple
1. to capture a creature by using a mechanical device or a hole designed to hold it
to capture a creature by using a mechanical device or a hole designed to hold it
The farmer trapped the fox that had been killing his chickens every night.
trap + (animal) — catch an animal using a device
Liam trapped a rabbit in the backyard and released it far away in the woods.
Local authorities trapped the wild boar to relocate it to a safer forest area.
Kasia's cat trapped a mouse under the kitchen cabinet and would not let it go.
Hunters in the region are no longer allowed to trap wolves in the national park.
- release
to set free after being caught
文法句型
trap + animal
用法筆記
This sense focuses on physically catching an animal. The past participle 'trapped' can also describe an animal that is caught, even if the cause is natural or accidental (e.g., a fish trapped in a shrinking pond).
2. to stop a substance like warm air, water, or energy from leaving a particular ar
to stop a substance like warm air, water, or energy from leaving a particular area
The thick curtains trap the heat inside the room during the cold winter months.
trap heat — prevent warmth from escaping
Double-glazed windows help trap warm air and reduce household energy bills.
The clay soil traps water, which makes it ideal for growing rice in flooded fields.
A layer of plastic sheeting traps moisture under the plant pots during the night.
Solar panels trap energy from the sun and turn it into electricity for the home.
文法句型
trap + heat/moisture/air
用法筆記
The object is typically a physical substance or form of energy (heat, cold, air, moisture, light, sound). Not used with abstract nouns like 'opportunity' or 'time'.
3. to be held in a spot or set of circumstances from which there is no way to get f
to be held in a spot or set of circumstances from which there is no way to get free
The passengers were trapped in the elevator for two hours after the power cut.
be trapped in — unable to escape from an enclosed space
Lucía felt trapped in her office job with no chance of promotion or change.
feel trapped — sense of being unable to escape a situation
Rescue workers freed the driver who was trapped inside the crushed car after the crash.
Heavy snow trapped the village and cut off all road access for three whole days.
The kitten got trapped under the floorboards and cried until the carpenter freed it.
文法句型
be/get trapped + in/by/under
用法筆記
Very commonly used in the passive voice (be/get trapped). The active form is less common for this sense. Can refer to both physical confinement and psychological situations.
常見錯誤
4. to force or deceive someone into a situation or action they did not want, making
to force or deceive someone into a situation or action they did not want, making it hard for them to refuse
The salesman trapped Ilan into signing a contract that he did not fully understand.
trap someone into + gerund — deceive someone into doing something
Nia felt trapped into agreeing to help because she could not bring herself to say no.
feel trapped into — sense of being forced by circumstances
The undercover officer trapped the suspect into confessing during the conversation.
Andrew was trapped into taking on extra work after his colleague suddenly quit the team.
Devika trapped herself into promising more than she could deliver to the demanding client.
- trick
to deceive someone, less forceful than trap
- manipulate
to control someone cleverly, often over time
- coerce
to force someone by using pressure or threats
- free
to release someone from an unwanted obligation
文法句型
trap someone into + doing something
用法筆記
Almost always used in the pattern 'trap someone into + doing something' or 'feel trapped into + doing something'. The person being trapped may not realize it until it is too late.
常見錯誤
5. in football (soccer), to stop and control a ball that is coming toward you throu
in football (soccer), to stop and control a ball that is coming toward you through the air or along the ground using your foot, chest, or leg
The striker trapped the ball perfectly on his chest and scored the winning goal.
trap the ball — bring a moving football under control
Linh trapped the football with her right foot and passed it quickly to a teammate.
Theo trapped the ball just before it went out of bounds near the sideline.
The midfielder trapped a high pass and started a fast counter-attack down the field.
Young players practice trapping the ball from different heights during every training session.
文法句型
trap + the ball
用法筆記
This sense is specific to football (soccer). In American English, 'control' or 'settle' is more common for the same action. British English uses 'trap' naturally in this context.