booby trap

• Dispositif caché ou déguisé destiné à blesser, surprendre ou piéger une personne qui le déclenche sans s'en douter. S'emploie aussi au sens figuré pour désigner une situation ou un objet qui paraît inoffensif mais qui est en réalité dangereux ou problématique.

A hidden or disguised device designed to cause harm, injury, or surprise when triggered by an unsuspecting person. Also used figuratively to describe a situation or object that appears harmless but is actually dangerous or problematic.

1. B2formal

   A hidden explosive device designed to be triggered by an unsuspecting person.

   piège explosif

   • The soldiers carefully searched the building for booby traps.
   • The bomb squad safely disarmed the booby trap.
   • The rebels used a booby trap to ambush the patrol.

2. Practical joke deviceB1informal

   A harmless but surprising device set up to prank someone.

   Attrape-nigaud

   • He set up a booby trap with a bucket of water above the door.
   • The kids laughed when the booby trap made a loud noise.
   • She fell for the classic booby trap of a whoopee cushion.