boobytrap
Concealed danger mechanism
A boobytrap is a hidden device designed to harm or surprise someone who triggers it unknowingly—a grenade rigged to a door, a bucket balanced to fall on whoever enters.
The word extends to any concealed hazard or trick: The contract was boobytrapped with hidden fees.
As a verb, to boobytrap is to set such a device: They boobytrapped the abandoned building.
Ore excavation site
- landmineBuried pressure-activated explosive
- IEDMakeshift explosive weapon
- tripwireConcealed activation cord
- detonatorExplosive initiation device
grenade · claymore · dynamite · TNT · C4 · fuse · timer · shrapnel
Exposure to harm
- riskPossibility of harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- pitfallHidden danger or drawback
- trapdoorHinged floor panel
tripwire · deadfall · snare · unsafe · lethal · injury · harm · threat
Surprise strike from concealment
- minefieldExplosive-laden territory
- guerrillaIrregular armed fighter
- tacticalStrategically planned
- perimeterShape's outer edge length
fortification · bunker · concealment · camouflage · reconnaissance · infiltration · defensive · tripwire
Thing that tempts
- baitLure for prey
- dummyLifelike substitute figure
- fakeNot the real thing
- camouflagedVisually hidden by coloring
disguised · concealed · misleading · feint · diversion · ruse · false · facade
Mouth restraint or jest
- trickDeliberate deception
- setupHow something is arranged
- bucketOpen-top carrying vessel
- spring-loadedPowered by compressed coil
pie · surprise · gotcha · scare · jumpscare · tripline · confetti · airhorn
Fraudulently arranged beforehand
- tamperedIllegally altered or meddled
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
- infiltratedEntered covertly, secretly
- underminedWeakened by stealth
disabled · vandalized · saboteur · malicious · deliberate · covert · planted · concealed
mine
Ore excavation site
- landmineBuried pressure-activated explosive
- IEDMakeshift explosive weapon
- tripwireConcealed activation cord
detonator · grenade · claymore · dynamite · TNT · C4 · fuse · timer · shrapnel · blast
danger
Exposure to harm
trapdoor · tripwire · deadfall · snare · unsafe · lethal · injury · harm · threat · warning
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
perimeter · fortification · bunker · concealment · camouflage · reconnaissance · infiltration · defensive · tripwire · anti-personnel
lure
Thing that tempts
camouflaged · disguised · concealed · misleading · feint · diversion · ruse · false · facade · imitation
gag
Mouth restraint or jest
spring-loaded · pie · surprise · gotcha · scare · jumpscare · tripline · confetti · airhorn · harmless
rigged
Fraudulently arranged beforehand
- tamperedIllegally altered or meddled
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
- infiltratedEntered covertly, secretly
undermined · disabled · vandalized · saboteur · malicious · deliberate · covert · planted · concealed · espionage
malware
Harmful computer programs
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- clickbaitSensationalized content for traffic
honeypot · ransomware · exploit · backdoor · spyware · cyber · hacking · link · attachment · download
boobytrapfrontal assault
Attack from the front
warning sign · warning shot · ultimatum · declaration of war
boobytrapsafeguard
Precaution against harm
safety measure · protective measure · security system · fail-safe · safety net
boobytrapwarning sign
Indicator of potential danger
advance notice · heads-up · caution sign · fair warning · alert