deathtrap

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Definition

Noun: A deathtrap is any structure, building, or vehicle that is extremely unsafe and dangerous, posing a very high risk of death or serious injury to the people inside or using it.

Usage

The word deathtrap is a strong, informal term used to describe a place or object so hazardous it could easily cause fatalities. It is often used for dramatic emphasis in journalism, everyday speech, and safety warnings to condemn unsafe conditions.

Examples
  • That old factory with the rotting floors and exposed wiring is a complete deathtrap.
  • The car had no working brakes; it was a deathtrap on wheels.
  • Fire inspectors condemned the apartment building, calling it a fire deathtrap.
Advanced Usage
  • The term can be used metaphorically to describe a highly dangerous situation or system, though this is less common.
    • The country's unregulated financial market became an economic deathtrap for small investors.
Variants and Related Words
  • Death trap (less common spelling): An alternative spelling with a space.
  • Deathly (adj): Causing or capable of causing death; fatal.
  • Trap (n): A device or situation used to catch someone or something, or a dangerous or unpleasant situation from which it is difficult to escape.
Synonyms
  • Hazard
  • Menace
  • Peril
  • Death warrant (idiomatic)
Antonyms
  • Safe haven
  • Sanctuary
  • Refuge
Related Idioms
  • A accident waiting to happen: This phrase describes a situation or object that is very likely to cause a bad accident, similar to a deathtrap but not always implying certain death.
    • That rickety balcony is an accident waiting to happen.
Noun
  1. any structure that is very unsafe; where people are likely to be killed