pitfall
pronunciation
How to pronounce pitfall in British English:
UK [ˈpɪtfɔːl]
How to pronounce pitfall in American English:
US [ˈpɪtfɔːl]
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- Noun:
- an unforeseen or unexpected or surprising difficulty
- a trap in the form of a concealed hole
Word Origin
- pitfall (n.)
- c. 1300, "concealed hole," a type of animal trap, from pit (n.1) + fall (n.). Extended sense of "any hidden danger" is first recorded early 15c.
Example
- 1. Another pitfall for real-estate investors : not accounting for unexpected expenses .
- 2. Even for an unwary western traveller , it was an avoidable pitfall .
- 3. Your vision , and a proactive approach , can help you avoid this pitfall .
- 4. Dodging the dysfunction pitfall requires first recognizing the problem and secondly , seeking counseling to help mitigate it .
- 5. But to dismiss the critics on that basis alone is to ignore the classic pitfall of anecdotal evidence .