trip wire
noun
1
: a low-placed concealed wire used especially in warfare to trip an enemy or trespasser and usually to trigger an alarm or explosive device when moved
2
: something (such as a small military force) intended to function like a trip wire (as to set a larger military force in motion)
Examples of trip wire in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Traveling backward through the battle, inverted Pattinson sees the baddies setting up a trip wire at the entrance to the tunnel leading to the Algorithm.
—
Nate Jones, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2024
There’s not a lot of research and development models precise enough to identify these trip wires.
—Michael Peregrine, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Russia’s strongholds in the east and south have been densely mined with antitank and antipersonnel mines and trip wires in areas from three to 10 miles deep.
—Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post, 20 July 2023
Areas between 3 and 10 miles deep in front of the Russians’ main strongholds have been densely mined with antitank and antipersonnel mines and trip wires.
—Isabelle Khurshudyan and Kamila Hrabchuk, Anchorage Daily News, 16 July 2023
Russia also uses mines triggered by slender, yellow-colored trip wires that stretch out a dozen or so yards — any of which, when disturbed, can set off an explosion and a spray of shrapnel.
—Andrew E. Kramer, BostonGlobe.com, 16 July 2023
Welcome to Screen Gab, the newsletter for everyone whose attempts at cord-cutting have proven full of trip wires.
—Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2023
Mikhail reached a Ukrainian trench and jumped, only to see a red flare go off when one of the Russians hit a trip wire.
—Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023
Every fine is a trip wire.
—Joseph Lezza, Longreads, 30 Mar. 2023
Nate Jones, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2024
There’s not a lot of research and development models precise enough to identify these trip wires.
—Michael Peregrine, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Russia’s strongholds in the east and south have been densely mined with antitank and antipersonnel mines and trip wires in areas from three to 10 miles deep.
—Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post, 20 July 2023
Areas between 3 and 10 miles deep in front of the Russians’ main strongholds have been densely mined with antitank and antipersonnel mines and trip wires.
—Isabelle Khurshudyan and Kamila Hrabchuk, Anchorage Daily News, 16 July 2023
Russia also uses mines triggered by slender, yellow-colored trip wires that stretch out a dozen or so yards — any of which, when disturbed, can set off an explosion and a spray of shrapnel.
—Andrew E. Kramer, BostonGlobe.com, 16 July 2023
Welcome to Screen Gab, the newsletter for everyone whose attempts at cord-cutting have proven full of trip wires.
—Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2023
Mikhail reached a Ukrainian trench and jumped, only to see a red flare go off when one of the Russians hit a trip wire.
—Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023
Every fine is a trip wire.
—Joseph Lezza, Longreads, 30 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trip wire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near trip wire
Cite this Entry
“Trip wire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trip%20wire. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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