Meaning & use
death trap
Last updated
UK/ˈdeθ træp/
US/ˈdeθ træp/
Meaning
nouncountableinformal
A building, vehicle or place that is so unsafe that people could easily be killed in it.
Grammar: Countable: a death trap, two death traps.
Patterns
- a death trap for someone
The old stairs were a death trap in the dark.
Without brakes, the old bike is a death trap.
Inspectors called the crowded factory a death trap.
Word forms
| plural | death traps |
|---|
Common combinations
- an absolute death trap
- The icy road was an absolute death trap.
- a potential death trap
- The wiring is a potential death trap.
- turn into a death trap
- The stairwell can turn into a death trap during a fire.
- a fire death trap
- Locked exits make the club a fire death trap.
- a mobile death trap
- His rusty car is a mobile death trap.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hazard
- A hazard is any source of danger, big or small, while a death trap is severe and likely to kill.
- firetrap
- A firetrap is dangerous because of fire risk, a narrower danger than a death trap.
- danger zone
- Danger zone is more general and does not suggest a building or machine.
Opposites
safe haven
Word family
Practice
Which describes a death trap?
Choose one answer.
A death trap is extremely unsafe. The other options describe safe or harmless things.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “death trap”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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