pitfall

Study(2)

/ˈpɪtfɔːl/

noun 4

Collocations

(noun.)

ADJ

obvious | common | hidden

possible, potential, unforeseen

One possible pitfall when learning English is relying too much on translation.

VERB + PITFALL

be fraught with, be full of, have, hold

Learning a new language is full of pitfalls, but practice helps you avoid them.

avoid | overcome

PITFALL + VERB

await sb

Many unexpected pitfalls await anyone who tries to learn a foreign language without proper guidance.

PREP

~ for

Learning a new language presents several pitfalls for students who rush through their studies.

~ in

One major pitfall in learning English is memorizing rules without practicing them regularly.

Definitions

noun

A potential, unsuspected, hidden problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious.

It's usually a simple task, but you should know the pitfalls before you attempt it yourself.

A type of trap consisting of a concealed pit in the ground, which the victim is supposed to fall into and not be able to get out from.

An antipattern.

Subsidence below ground in a mine, which can cause the ground level above to drop.

This pitfall, beginning in February and finishing in May, resulted in a drop of about 3 ft. in the platform level; during this period it was necessary to level the track three times weekly, and impose a service slack of 15 m.p.h. The subsidence appears now to have finished, and normal speed is once again permitted.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — a trap in the form of a concealed hole

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

It's usually a simple task, but you should know the pitfalls before you attempt it yourself.

Wiktionary

The specimen was caught in a pitfall trap sunk in the ground.

Tatoeba · #5257498

I managed to sidestep every pitfall.

Tatoeba · #10552074

Every year, they set out pitfall traps: two-liter plastic buckets buried in the soil, with pieces of slightly rotten chicken for bait.

Tatoeba · #11068543

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, pitfall is marked as figuratively. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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