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🇩🇪German Source WordCode: DE

Sprengfalle

Pronunciation / Transliteration: /ˈʃpʁɛŋˌfalə/

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Booby-trap/ˈbuː.bi.træp/
nounverbCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #8500 frequency
Full Thesaurus
🇩🇪 Example Sentence in German:

"Das Gebäude war voller gefährlicher Sprengfallen."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A hidden, improvised explosive device or mechanism designed to detonate or activate when an unsuspecting person touches or moves a seemingly harmless object.

    "The retreating soldiers left a dangerous booby-trap hidden inside the abandoned building."
As verb
  1. 1

    To equip an object or location with a concealed trap or explosive device designed to harm or surprise someone.

    "They decided to booby-trap the entrance to prevent intruders from gaining access."
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Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Synonyms (3)
Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term combines 'booby' (derived from the Spanish 'bobo', meaning foolish or stupid, referring to the foolish bird that was easily caught) with 'trap' originating from Germanic roots. First appearing in the late 19th century among British soldiers, it originally referred to a practical joke played on someone, but evolved during World War I to designate hidden explosive devices designed to catch an unsuspecting enemy.

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10 Global Lexicons: How "Booby-trap" is said worldwide

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Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Booby-trap"

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