pitfall

== English == === Etymology === First recorded use in the 14th century from pit +‎ fall in the sense of "pit trap, pit snare", from Old English fealle (“trap, snare”), from Proto-Germanic *fallą, *fallaz (“a fall, trap”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pōl-. Cognate with German Falle (“trap, snare”). === Pronunciation === (UK) enPR: pĭtʹfôl, IPA(key): /ˈpɪtfɔːl/ (US) enPR: pĭtʹfäl, IPA(key): /ˈpɪtfɔl/ === Noun === pitfall (plural pitfalls) (literal) A type of trap consisting of a concealed pit in the ground, into which the victim is supposed to fall and not be able to get out from. Synonym: trapping pit (figurative) A potential, unsuspected, hidden problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious. Synonym: trap Hyponym: ifs, ands, or buts (computing) An antipattern. Synonyms: antipattern, dark pattern (mining) Subsidence below ground in a mine, which can cause the ground level above to drop. ==== Derived terms ==== === Verb === pitfall (third-person singular simple present pitfalls, present participle pitfalling, simple past and past participle pitfalled) (figurative, transitive, uncommon) To trap, snare, or ensnare someone or something. ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === pitfall (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia