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- Dictionarypit·fall/ˈpitˌfôl/
noun
- 1. a hidden or unsuspected danger or difficulty.
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a likely mistake or problem in a situation: The store fell into one of the major pitfalls of small business, borrowing from suppliers by paying bills late. There's a video that tells new students about pitfalls to avoid. Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples. a problem. problem What's the problem here?
The meaning of PITFALL is trap, snare; specifically : a pit flimsily covered or camouflaged and used to capture and hold animals or people.
Synonyms for PITFALL: risk, hitch, snag, catch, gotcha, booby trap, land mine, kicker; Antonyms of PITFALL: protection, ward, guard, shield, refuge, retreat, harbor, shelter.
A pitfall is a trap or difficulty you didn't see. A possible pitfall for high school seniors is not working hard after they know they've already been accepted into college. In 1300, pitfall referred to an animal trap, such as branches laid across a deep hole offering no escape.
It is often used to describe a problem or obstacle that is not immediately apparent, and may catch someone off guard. For example, a common pitfall in starting a new business is underestimating the amount of time and resources required, leading to financial difficulties or failure.
An unapparent source of trouble or danger; a hidden hazard. American Heritage. Similar definitions. A lightly covered pit used as a trap for animals. Webster's New World. Similar definitions. An unsuspected difficulty, danger, or error that one may fall into. Webster's New World. (computing) An anti-pattern. Wiktionary. Synonyms: booby trap. pit.
countable noun [usually plural] The pitfalls involved in a particular activity or situation are the things that may go wrong or may cause problems. The pitfalls of working abroad are numerous. [+ of] He also points out that forward planning can help avoid stressful pitfalls.
noun. /ˈpɪtfɔːl/ a danger or difficulty, especially one that is hidden or not obvious at first. the potential pitfalls of buying a house. Getting professional advice will help you avoid the most obvious pitfalls. Extra Examples. Topics Danger c2, Difficulty and failure c2. Oxford Collocations Dictionary. Questions about grammar and vocabulary?
n. 1. An unapparent source of trouble or danger; a hidden hazard: "potential pitfalls stemming from their optimistic inflation assumptions" (New York Times). 2. A concealed hole in the ground that serves as a trap. American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Find 26 different ways to say PITFALL, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.
