elephant trap en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈɛlɪf(ə)nt ˌtɹæp/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈɛləfənt ˌtɹæp/ (General-American)
Etymology
From elephant + trap, alluding to the fact that a trap for an elephant needs to be quite large, and so ought to be easily seen.
Meanings
-
(figuratively) A trap which can easily be avoided by a competent person, and thus proves the incompetence of anybody trapped by it.
To show he doesn’t do his fair share of work, I’ve set him an elephant trap. If he falls in he’ll look like a clown.
- (figuratively) Often in the form Elephant Trap: a faulty attempt by White to win a pawn in a popular variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, which is generally only effective against inexperienced players.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| elephant traps | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (8)
vi bẫy elephant ((chess) faulty attempt by White to win a pawn) · ca trampa de l'elefant ((chess) faulty attempt by White to win a pawn) · fr piège de l'éléphant ((chess) faulty attempt by White to win a pawn) · sh сло̀новска за̑мка ((chess) faulty attempt by White to win a pawn) · ta யானைப் பொறி ((chess) faulty attempt by White to win a pawn) · ca parany de l'elefant ((chess) faulty attempt by White to win a pawn) · sh slònovska zȃmka ((chess) faulty attempt by White to win a pawn) · ml എലിഫന്റ് ട്രാപ്പ് ((chess) faulty attempt by White to win a pawn)