(~s, ~ping, ~ped)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a device which is placed somewhere or a hole which is dug somewhere in order to catch animals or birds.
N-COUNT
2.
If a person ~s animals or birds, he or she catches them using ~s.
The locals were encouraged to ~ and kill the birds.
VERB: V n
3.
A ~ is a trick that is intended to catch or deceive someone.
He was trying to decide whether the question was some sort of a ~.
N-COUNT
4.
If you ~ someone into doing or saying something, you trick them so that they do or say it, although they did not want to.
Were you just trying to ~ her into making some admission?...
She had ~ped him so neatly that he wanted to slap her.
VERB: V n into -ing/n, V n
5.
To ~ someone, especially a criminal, means to capture them. (JOURNALISM)
The police knew that to ~ the killer they had to play him at his own game...
VERB: V n
6.
A ~ is an unpleasant situation that you cannot easily escape from.
The Government has found it’s caught in a ~ of its own making.
N-COUNT: usu sing
7.
If you are ~ped somewhere, something falls onto you or blocks your way and prevents you from moving or escaping.
The train was ~ped underground by a fire...
The light aircraft then cartwheeled, ~ping both men...
Until he saw the ~ped wagons and animals, he did not realize the full extent of the catastrophe.
VERB: be V-ed, V n, V-ed
8.
When something ~s gas, water, or energy, it prevents it from escaping.
Wool ~s your body heat, keeping the chill at bay...
The volume of gas ~ped on these surfaces can be considerable.
VERB: V n, V-ed
9.
see also ~ped , booby-~ , death ~ , poverty ~
10.
If someone falls into the ~ of doing something, they think or behave in a way which is not wise or sensible.
Many people fall into the ~ of believing that home decorating must always be done on a large scale...
PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR of -ing
11.
If someone tells you to shut your ~ or keep your ~ shut, they are telling you rudely that you should be quiet and not say anything. (INFORMAL, RUDE)
= shut up
PHRASE: V inflects