thirst trap

English

Etymology

thirst (“sexual lust”) + trap.

Noun

thirst trap (plural thirst traps)

1. (Internet slang) A sexually suggestive selfie posted on social media in order to fish for compliments or arouse thirst (sexual lust). [from 2010s]
   • 2017 December 21, Valeriya Safronova, “Instagram Is Now a Dating Platform, Too. Here’s How It Works.”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     If you are successful, the person you are targeting will be tempted to comment. Might even actually comment. Might even “slide into your DMs.” If so, you have pulled off your very own thirst trap.

   • 2018 November 6, Taylor Lorenz, “The Voting-Sticker Thirst Trap Is Here”, in The Atlantic‎^[2], retrieved 2023-01-13:

     Posting a thirst trap is a great way to rake in a lot of likes on a photo. But as many Instagrammers have found, it’s also a great way to try and get out the vote.

   • 2020 April 20, Ciara Gaffney, “Sex during lockdown: are we witnessing a cybersexual revolution?”, in The Guardian‎^[3]:

     In the lockdown era, however, thirst traps and nudes are not only making a glorious, unrepentant comeback, but are now a form of emboldened agency in Gen Z’s blossoming sexual liberation.

   • 2021, Tagan Shepard, Swipe Right, Bella Books, →ISBN:

     “Me. You can't put up a thirst trap with someone else in the background.” “Thirst trap?” Pen reached over and scooped the phone out of my hand. “A sexy selfie. You catch someone's eye and make them salivate over how hot you are.”

   • 2021, Mandy Hale, Don't Believe the Swipe: Finding Love without Losing Yourself, Baker Books, →ISBN:

     You won't have to post thirst-trap selfies or passive-aggressive quotes on social media to get his attention.

Related terms

• thirsty

See also

• honey trap

Further reading

• “thirst trap”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• “thirst trap”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.