claptrap

WOTD - 24 November 2009    

English

Alternative forms

• clap trap
• clap-trap

Etymology

Theater slang, c. 1730, from clap and trap, referring to theatrical techniques or gags used to incite applause.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA: /ˈklæp.tɹæp/

Noun

claptrap (countable and uncountable; plural claptraps)

1. Empty verbiage or nonsense. [from early 19th c.]

Synonyms

• See Wikisaurus:nonsense

Translations

empty verbiage or nonsense

Catalan: galimaties (ca) m., embull (ca) m.,embrolla (ca) f., algaravia (ca) f. Finnish: hölynpöly (fi), humpuuki (fi), höpönpöpö (fi) French: verbiage (fr), charabia (fr), galimatias (fr) Italian: sproloquio (it)

Polish: mowa-trawa (pl), pustosłowie (pl) Russian: чепуха (ru) f. Spanish: algarabía  (es), verborrea  (es), galimatías (es) , palabrería (es)