thirst trap

noun

plural thirst traps

: a photograph (such as a selfie) or video shared for the purpose of attracting attention or desire

A thirst trap is always clearly posted or sent for the attention and admiration of one or more people—but is often done coyly …

—Madeline Merinuk

Several of the videos posted by Mr. Ossoff, 35, who has moppy brown hair and boyish good looks, have been interpreted by his fans as thirst traps.

—Anna P. Kambhampaty

also : someone or something that attracts attention or strong desire

Thirst trap Boris Kodjoe spends a lot of time without clothes in the movie, to the delight of his fans.

—Tonya Pendleton

He's not just a thoughtful and empathetic leader, he's also an A+ thirst trap.

—GQ

Michael Roos is a long-time DJ, and his house is a thirst trap for music lovers with a colossal collection of vinyl, an adjoined music studio and walls lined with memorabilia.

—Eva Raggio

Examples of thirst trap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her latest thirst trap comes almost exactly two years after the grand reveal of her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover shoot in May 2023. —Michael Nied, People.com, 13 May 2025

Reneé Rapp is teasing new music — with the help of some thirst traps. —Ana Osorno, Them., 13 May 2025

Well-known before, the attorney would become a bona fide celebrity and an improbable thirst trap. —Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 4 Apr. 2025

Related article Online chefs are posting thirst traps for their followers. —Jack Guy, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025

For beauty brand Clé de Peau Beauté's first TikTok campaign in 2022, Stewart spilled her secrets for snapping a perfect thirst trap. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025

Angry Birds 2 even has a real zag moment when the pig leader accidentally displays his dating-app thirst traps during a slideshow presentation about taking on the new big bad. —Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025

Robert Irwin is keeping the thirst trap train going! —Nicholas Rice, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025

Dylan Efron knows how to set the internet ablaze with thirst traps! —Brian Anthony Hernandez, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Note: Thirst trap in the above sense appears to be a recycling of the phrase in an earlier sense, "feeling of satiety during exercise after drinking a small amount of liquid without fully rehydrating the body."

First Known Use

2011, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for thirst trap

• bandgap
• bitmap
• blackcap
• blackstrap
• bootstrap
• burlap
• claptrap
• entrap
• foolscap
• kidnap
• kneecap
• madcap