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. A contrivance for clapping in theaters.
2. A trick or device to gain applause; humbug.
3. 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) (čepuxa) f
• Serbo-Croatian: (spoken nonsense) bljezgarije (sh) f pl, glupost (sh) f
• Spanish: algarabía (es), verborrea (es), galimatías (es) , palabrería (es)