rattrap

noun

rat·​trap ˈra(t)-ˌtrap 

1

: a trap for rats

2

: a dirty dilapidated structure

3

: a hopeless situation

Synonyms

• bind
• box
• catch-22
• corner
• dilemma
• fix
• hole
• impasse
• jackpot [chiefly West]
• jam
• mire
• pickle
• predicament
• quagmire
• rabbit hole
• spot
• sticky wicket
• swamp

Examples of rattrap in a Sentence

although the military invasion had been a breeze, the nation soon found itself caught in a rattrap with no clear escape route

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1