booby trap

noun

1

: a trap for the unwary or unsuspecting : pitfall

2

: a concealed explosive device contrived to go off when some harmless-looking object is touched

booby-trap

ˈbü-bē-ˌtrap 

transitive verb

Synonyms

• mine

Examples of booby trap in a Sentence

Someone had rigged a booby trap that blew up the car when the engine was started.

We set a booby trap by balancing a bucket of water on top of the door so that it would fall on him when he came in.

Recent Examples on the Web

Wary of booby traps and with evening closing in, the troops did not enter the building until the next day. —James MacKenzie, Reuters, 18 Oct. 2024

Unfortunately, though, one open window negates all the padlocks, bolts, and booby traps money can buy. —Lily Hay Newman, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2019

The characters must navigate different booby traps and escape from one cube into another. —EW.com, 17 Oct. 2024

Get ready for a night of holiday mischief with everyone's favorite Christmas prankster — and without the booby traps. —Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

booby trap

noun

: a trap for a careless or unsuspecting person

especially : a concealed explosive device set to go off when a harmless-looking object is touched

boobytrap

ˈbü-bē-ˌtrap

verb