trip-up
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- An unintentional but embarrassing blunder or error: A "trip-up" is a minor mistake, often in speech or action, that causes awkwardness or reveals a lapse in memory or coordination.
- A stumble or misstep, literal or figurative: It can refer to a physical stumble or, more commonly, a figurative slip, such as an error in a sequence or performance.
Usage and Examples
- Noun:
- His only mistake in the speech was a minor trip-up on the foreign minister's name.
- The actor's trip-up in the second act was barely noticeable to the audience.
- After a smooth presentation, a single trip-up on the final statistic undermined her confidence.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- "to cause a trip-up": to be the reason for someone's error or stumble.
- The complex wording of the legal document caused a trip-up for many readers.
- Used to describe errors in performances (e.g., speeches, music, sports) or in processes where smooth execution is expected.
Variants and Related Words
- Trip (verb): To catch one's foot on something and stumble; to cause someone to do this. ( / )
- Trip (noun): A journey; also, a stumble. ( / )
- Trip-up is often synonymous with slip-up or blunder when used as a noun.
Synonyms
- Slip-up: A minor or careless mistake.
- Blunder: A stupid or careless mistake.
- Misstep: A mistake in judgment or action; a wrong step.
- Faux pas: A socially awkward or tactless act.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Trip up (phrasal verb): To cause someone to make a mistake, especially with a tricky question, or to stumble.
- The prosecutor tried to trip up the witness with contradictory evidence.
- Be careful on the path so you don't trip up on the tree roots.
Related Idioms
- To trip over one's own feet/tongue: To make a clumsy physical mistake or a verbal error due to nervousness.
- He was so nervous during the introduction that he tripped over his own tongue.
Noun
- an unintentional but embarrassing blunder
- he recited the whole poem without a single trip
- he arranged his robes to avoid a trip-up later
- confusion caused his unfortunate misstep