heffalump trap
A situation where an attempt to trap or outwit someone ends up backfiring on the original schemer.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He fell into his own heffalump trap.”
“The manager tried to trick his rival, but it became a heffalump trap when the boss found out.”
“By engineering an elaborate scheme to discredit his colleague, the ambitious politician inadvertently constructed a heffalump trap that ultimately ruined his own career.”
- 01
fall into a trap
To make a mistake, a bad decision or act senselessly and get into an extremely difficult situation.
- 02
fly out of the traps
to start quickly.
- 03
honey trap
The use of a romantic or a sexual relationship to entice a person into revealing secret information.
- 04
race out of the traps
To start something very quickly.
- 05
shut one's trap
To stop talking; to be quiet.
Last updated August 10, 2026