monkey trap
A 'monkey trap' can refer to a literal device used to capture monkeys or a metaphor for situations where individuals are trapped by their own inability to let go.
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Definition
B2Wildlife Capture
(literal)A device designed to catch monkeys by enticing them to grab bait through a small opening, which they cannot withdraw their hand from while holding the bait.
Example
- The monkey trap used a coconut with a hole just big enough for the monkey to insert its hand but not withdraw it while holding the fruit.
B2Metaphor
(figurative)A situation where someone is trapped by their own inability to let go of something, leading to disadvantage or harm.
Example
- He fell into a monkey trap by refusing to sell his stocks even as their value plummeted.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "monkey trap":
baby trapelephant trapevolutionary trapfall into a trapbooby traptrap outreverse traphoney traptrap nestrabbit trailmonkey laddermonkey businesstake the baitsnake pit