der Fallstrick
Translation
pitfall, trap, snare
Examples
Das Projekt hatte viele unerwartete Fallstricke.
The project had many unexpected pitfalls.
Achte auf die Fallstricke in diesem Vertrag.
Watch out for the pitfalls in this contract.
Grammar Patterns
to be a pitfall for sb. Bureaucracy was a pitfall for the startup.
Similar Words
Synonyms: Falle (trap), Hürde (hurdle); Antonyms: Chance (opportunity)
Etymology
From 'Fall' (fall) + 'Strick' (rope). Literally a 'rope to make someone fall', i.e., a tripwire or snare.
Memory Tips
Think of a tripwire: a 'Strick' (rope) that causes a 'Fall'. This image works for both the literal and figurative meaning of 'pitfall'.