Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To be caught in a trap: To become physically ensnared or captured by a device set to catch animals or people.
   • To fall for a trick / to be deceived: To be tricked or duped into a disadvantageous situation, often through cunning or deceit.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Con cáo đã mắc bẫy của người thợ săn. (The fox was caught in the hunter's trap.)
  • Nhiều người đã mắc bẫy lừa đảo qua điện thoại. (Many people have fallen for telephone scams.)
  • Đội đối phương mắc bẫy việt vị. (The opposing team fell into the offside trap.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used in both literal (physical traps) and highly figurative contexts (psychological, strategic, or digital traps).
• It often implies a sense of being victimized by one's own carelessness, greed, or ignorance.

Variants and Related Words

• Mắc lừa (verb phrase): to be tricked, to be deceived. Focuses more on the deception than the trapping mechanism.

  • Cậu bé mắc lừa kẻ lạ mặt. (The boy was tricked by the stranger.)

• Sa bẫy (verb phrase): to fall into a trap. Very similar in meaning and usage to "mắc bẫy."

  • Họ đã khiến đối thủ sa bẫy. (They made their opponent fall into the trap.)

Synonyms

• To be trapped: To be caught in a trap.
• To be ensnared: To be caught, as if in a snare.
• To be duped: To be deceived or tricked.

Related Idioms

• Mắc bẫy ngọt: Literally "to be caught in a sweet trap"; to be seduced or lured by tempting but dangerous offers (e.g., easy money, flattery).
  • Anh ta mắc bẫy ngọt của những lời hứa hẹn. (He was caught in the sweet trap of empty promises.)