booby-trapping
Planting hidden dangers
Booby-trapping is the act of setting concealed devices designed to harm, surprise, or catch someone unaware.
The term comes from booby in its older sense of a fool—someone stupid enough to trigger the trap.
Military booby traps are explosive; civilian ones might be pranks: They spent the afternoon booby-trapping the cabin before the counselors arrived.
Figuratively, to booby-trap something is to set it up to fail or backfire on whoever engages with it.
Makeshift explosive weapon
- tripwireConcealed activation cord
- landmineBuried pressure-activated explosive
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
detonator · concealment · warfare · insurgent · patrol · roadside · shrapnel · casualties
Device for catching prey
- pitfallHidden danger or drawback
- deadfallTrap using falling weight
- baitLure for prey
- concealmentAct of hiding something
camouflage · prey · trigger · spring · poaching · wildlife · catch · lure
How something is arranged
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- bucketOpen-top carrying vessel
- doorHinged room barrier
- tripwireConcealed activation cord
gag · victim · spring-loaded · confetti · string · rigging · harmless · jump-scare
Harmful computer programs
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- honeypotDecoy system catching attackers
- exploitNotable act or abuse
- hackingInfiltrating protected digital systems
decoy · cybersecurity · bait · virus · link · download · attachment · encryption
IED
Makeshift explosive weapon
- tripwireConcealed activation cord
- landmineBuried pressure-activated explosive
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
explosive · detonator · concealment · warfare · insurgent · patrol · roadside · shrapnel · casualties · clearance
snare
Device for catching prey
concealment · camouflage · prey · trigger · spring · poaching · wildlife · catch · lure · game
setup
How something is arranged
tripwire · gag · victim · spring-loaded · confetti · string · rigging · harmless · jump-scare · hidden
malware
Harmful computer programs
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- honeypotDecoy system catching attackers
- exploitNotable act or abuse
hacking · decoy · cybersecurity · bait · virus · link · download · attachment · encryption · firewall
intruder
Unauthorized person present
trespasser · property · wire · sensor · defense · prevention · rigging · warning · breach · surveillance
booby-trappingfrontal assault
Attack from the front
charging · pitched battle · hand-to-hand combat · conventional warfare · declaring war
booby-trappingdefusing
Neutralizing an explosive device
disarming · safeguarding · protecting · clearing · bomb disposal
booby-trappingwarning
Alert about danger
alerting · flagging · disclosing · signaling
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