mousetrap: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to Informal
Quick answer
What does “mousetrap” mean?
A mechanical device designed to catch and usually kill a mouse.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mechanical device designed to catch and usually kill a mouse.
A scheme or situation that is designed to trap, deceive, or ensnare someone, often unexpectedly. Also, used colloquially to refer to a simple, cheap cheese, particularly of poor quality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or device type. The metaphorical and cheese usages are understood in both, but 'mousetrap cheese' is a more established British colloquialism.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes simplicity, low-tech solutions, and sometimes ingenuity (as in 'build a better mousetrap'). The metaphorical use implies a clever or devious snare.
Frequency
Literal device: equally common. Metaphorical trap: slightly more frequent in formal/literary contexts. Informal cheese term: more frequent in UK.
Grammar
How to Use “mousetrap” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] mousetrap [VERB: caught/snapped/failed].He [VERB: set/baited/invented] a mousetrap.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mousetrap” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The defender cleverly mousetrapped the attacker, forcing him into a corner.
- I've been mousetrapped by that misleading small print before.
American English
- The prosecutor mousetrapped the witness with a series of quick questions.
- The new policy effectively mousetraps companies that try to avoid regulations.
adverb
British English
- Not a standard adverbial form. No common examples.
American English
- Not a standard adverbial form. No common examples.
adjective
British English
- He came up with a mousetrap solution to the data entry problem.
- It was a mousetrap scheme, too clever for its own good.
American English
- The mousetrap mechanism was surprisingly complex for such a simple task.
- They fell for the classic mousetrap play in the final minutes of the game.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically for a business strategy designed to outmaneuver or capture competitors' customers.
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical or design contexts discussing simple mechanics or pest control.
Everyday
Common for discussing pest control in homes, garages, etc. Also used figuratively for tricky situations.
Technical
Specific to pest management, with terms like 'snap trap', 'live-catch trap', 'glue trap' as subtypes.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mousetrap”
- Misspelling as 'mouse trap' (should be one word or hyphenated: 'mousetrap' or 'mouse-trap').
- Using it as a verb without the proper context ('He mousetrapped the intruder' is highly informal/creative).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard modern spelling is as one word: 'mousetrap'. The hyphenated form 'mouse-trap' is less common but acceptable.
Yes, but it is informal and figurative. It means to trap or ensnare someone cleverly, as in a mousetrap. It is not used for the literal act of setting a device for mice.
It's a British informal, often humorous or derogatory term for a cheap, poor-quality, processed cheese, likening it to the bait used in a mousetrap.
Agatha Christie's play 'The Mousetrap', the world's longest-running play. The title is a metaphor for the trap set for a murderer within the story.
A mechanical device designed to catch and usually kill a mouse.
Mousetrap is usually neutral to informal in register.
Mousetrap: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmaʊs.træp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmaʊs.træp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of MOUSE + TRAP. A trap for a mouse. Simple.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECEPTION/ENTRAPMENT IS A MOUSETRAP (e.g., 'The contract clause was a clever mousetrap').
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'build a better mousetrap', what does 'mousetrap' metaphorically represent?