Definition

Noun: 1. A trap made of steel: A mechanical device constructed primarily from steel, featuring a powerful spring and sharp, tooth-like projections designed to capture and hold an animal. 2. An acute or quick intelligence: A metaphorical use describing a mind that is exceptionally sharp, quick, and retentive, drawing an analogy to the well-known speed and sharpness of the physical trap.

Usage Examples

Advanced Usage

• "as sharp as a steel trap": A common simile used to emphasize someone's quick-wittedness or keen intellect.
  • In the debate, her responses were as sharp as a steel trap.
• "a mind like a steel trap": An idiomatic phrase that is the most frequent way this term is used, almost exclusively referring to mental acuity rather than the physical object in modern contexts.

Variants and Related Words

• Steel-trap (adj., often hyphenated when used attributively): Used to describe such a quality of mind.
  • He is known for his steel-trap memory.

Synonyms

• (For the intelligence sense): Keen mind, quick wit, sharp intellect, retentive memory, mental acuity.

Related Idioms

• "Razor-sharp mind": A similar idiom emphasizing sharp, cutting intelligence.
• "Quick on the uptake": Describes someone who understands things very rapidly.

Noun

1. a trap made of steel with a strong spring and sharp toothlike projections to hold the prey
2. an acute intelligence (an analogy based on the well-known sharpness of steel traps)
   • he's as sharp as a steel trap
   • a mind like a steel trap