英和和英

発音

• (英国発音) enPR: pĭtʹfôl, IPA: /ˈpɪtfɔːl/
• (米国発音) enPR: pĭtʹfäl, IPA: /ˈpɪtfɔl/

名詞

pitfall (plural pitfalls)

1. (figurative) A potential, unsuspected, hidden problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious.

   Synonym: trap

   It's usually a simple task, but you should know the pitfalls before you attempt it yourself.

2. (literal) A type of trap consisting of a concealed pit in the ground, which the victim is supposed to fall into and not be able to get out from.

   Synonym: trapping pit

3. (computing) An antipattern.

   Synonyms: antipattern, dark pattern

4. (mining) Subsidence below ground in a mine, which can cause the ground level above to drop.
   • 1939 June, “Pertinent Paragraphs: Pitfalls”, in Railway Magazine, page 456:

     This pitfall, beginning in February and finishing in May, resulted in a drop of about 3 ft. in the platform level; during this period it was necessary to level the track three times weekly, and impose a service slack of 15 m.p.h. The subsidence appears now to have finished, and normal speed is once again permitted.

下位語

• ifs, ands, or buts

派生語

• pitfall and gin
• pitfalled
• pitfalling

Further reading

• pitfall (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia