pitfall

English

Etymology

First recorded use in the 14th century from pit +‎ fall in the sense of "pit trap, pit snare", from Old English fealle (“trap, snare”), from Proto-Germanic *fallą, *fallaz (“a fall, trap”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pōl-. Cognate with German Falle (“trap, snare”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) enPR: pĭtʹfôl, IPA(key): /ˈpɪtfɔːl/
  • (US) enPR: pĭtʹfäl, IPA(key): /ˈpɪtfɔl/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

pitfall (plural pitfalls)

  1. (literal) A type of trap consisting of a concealed pit in the ground, into which the victim is supposed to fall and not be able to get out from.
    Synonym: trapping pit
  2. (figurative) A potential, unsuspected, hidden problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious.
    Synonym: trap
    Hyponym: ifs, ands, or buts
    It's usually a simple task, but you should know the pitfalls before you attempt it yourself.
  3. (computing) An antipattern.
    Synonyms: antipattern, dark pattern
  4. (mining) Subsidence below ground in a mine, which can cause the ground level above to drop.
    • 1939 June, “Pertinent Paragraphs: Pitfalls”, in Railway Magazine, page 456:
      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.

Derived terms

Verb

pitfall (third-person singular simple present pitfalls, present participle pitfalling, simple past and past participle pitfalled)

  1. (figurative, transitive, uncommon) To trap, snare, or ensnare someone or something.

Translations

Further reading

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