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MichalS Posted 18 years ago
Vocabulary
spring a trap.........
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 7th ed. :
spring a 'trap
1 to make a trap for catching animals close suddenly
2 to try to trick sb into doing or saying sth; to succeed in this
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English:
spring a trap
1 if an animal springs a trap, it is caught by the trap
2 to make someone say or do something by tricking them
OK....... the 2's agree in my mind. The 1's do not. In fact, I don't really understand the Oxford's definition (make a trap close suddenly ???), yet they seem to be semantically reversed. You either make a trap or you're are caught in it. Can someone make any sense of the Oxford definition no. 1? And....which out of the two 1's is right?
Thank you,
Michal
1 to make a trap for catching animals close suddenly
2 to try to trick sb into doing or saying sth; to succeed in this
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English:
spring a trap
1 if an animal springs a trap, it is caught by the trap
2 to make someone say or do something by tricking them
OK....... the 2's agree in my mind. The 1's do not. In fact, I don't really understand the Oxford's definition (make a trap close suddenly ???), yet they seem to be semantically reversed. You either make a trap or you're are caught in it. Can someone make any sense of the Oxford definition no. 1? And....which out of the two 1's is right?
Thank you,
Michal
Top answer
Hi, 1. Normally, the animal springs the trap, eg by stepping on it. The trapper might spring the trap, eg by sticking a stick into it if he wants to test it, or by pulling a string when the animal enters the trap.
- Hi, 1.
- Normally, the animal springs the trap, eg by stepping on it.
- The trapper might spring the trap, eg by sticking a stick into it if he wants to test it, or by pulling a string when the animal enters the trap.
- 2.
- Consider the similarity to #1, eg I set a verbal trap by asking you a loaded question.
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10 Answers
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Hi,
1. Normally, the animal springs the trap, eg by stepping on it. The trapper might spring the trap, eg by sticking a stick into it if he wants to test it, or by pulling a string when the animal enters the trap.
2. Consider the similarity to #1, eg I set a verbal trap by asking you a loaded question. Then you answer. Then I spring the trap and say 'Aha, gotcha!'.
Best
1. Normally, the animal springs the trap, eg by stepping on it. The trapper might spring the trap, eg by sticking a stick into it if he wants to test it, or by pulling a string when the animal enters the trap.
2. Consider the similarity to #1, eg I set a verbal trap by asking you a loaded question. Then you answer. Then I spring the trap and say 'Aha, gotcha!'.
Best
00
Thank you, Clive!
So I gather that Oxford's first definition is incorrect, right?
So I gather that Oxford's first definition is incorrect, right?
00
MichalSOxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 7th ed. :This isn't incorrect. It is, in fact, very close to what actually happens in the wild while trapping animals. If a desired prey gets into the trap, you wouldn't want it to close slowly. So
spring a 'trap
1 to make a trap for catching animals close suddenly
00
Hi,
So I gather that Oxford's first definition is incorrect, right? No, it's correct. You have misunderstood me. What I wrote was this.
1. Normally, the animal springs the trap, eg by stepping on it. The trapper might spring the trap, eg by sticking a stick into it if he wants to test it, or by pulling a string when the animal enters the trap.
Clive
So I gather that Oxford's first definition is incorrect, right? No, it's correct. You have misunderstood me. What I wrote was this.
1. Normally, the animal springs the trap, eg by stepping on it. The trapper might spring the trap, eg by sticking a stick into it if he wants to test it, or by pulling a string when the animal enters the trap.
Clive
00
Thanks again!0
I've heard this idiom in Star Wars 3.
-I sense a trap.
-Next move?
-Spring the trap.
This conversation does no go with the definitions, or does it?
-I sense a trap.
-Next move?
-Spring the trap.
This conversation does no go with the definitions, or does it?
00
Hi,
I've heard this idiom in Star Wars 3.
-I sense a trap.
-Next move?
-Spring the trap.
This conversation does no go with the definitions, or does it?
The last speaker is suggesting that they cause the trap to close, so that it will no longer be a danger to them.
eg Someone puts a trap on th
I've heard this idiom in Star Wars 3.
-I sense a trap.
-Next move?
-Spring the trap.
This conversation does no go with the definitions, or does it?
The last speaker is suggesting that they cause the trap to close, so that it will no longer be a danger to them.
eg Someone puts a trap on th
00
0
Hi Clive,
Having seen the movie several times, I actually think what speaker 2 (i.e. Obi-Wan Kenobi) means is springing the trap by getting caught in it deliberately, thus getting the chance to confront the trapper. Therefore in my view they willingly play the part of the animal.
Having seen the movie several times, I actually think what speaker 2 (i.e. Obi-Wan Kenobi) means is springing the trap by getting caught in it deliberately, thus getting the chance to confront the trapper. Therefore in my view they willingly play the part of the animal.
00
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