pitfall

1 an unforeseen or unexpected or surprising difficulty [syn: booby trap]

2 a trap in the form of a concealed hole [syn: pit]

English

Etymology

pit + fall

Pronunciation

• italbrac UK: , /ˈpɪtfɔːl/, /"pItfO:l/
• italbrac US: , /ˈpɪtfɑl/, /"pItfAl/

Noun

1. a potential problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious.

   It's usually a simple task, but you should know the pitfalls before you attempt it yourself.

2. In the context of "computing": An anti-pattern.

Synonyms

• : trap
• : anti-pattern, dark pattern

Derived terms

• pitfalled

Translations

Pitfall refers to a series of video games:

• Pitfall!, the 1982 original
• Pitfall II: Lost Caverns, a 1984 sequel
• Super Pitfall, a 1987 sequel and a quasi-remake of Pitfall II
• Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure, a 1994 sequel
• Pitfall 3D: Beyond the Jungle, a 1998 sequel
• Pitfall: The Lost Expedition, a 2004 sequel

Pitfall may also refer to:

• Anti-pattern, a computing term
• Pitfall (game show), a game show hosted by Alex Trebek
• Pitfall (1948 film), a 1948 film directed by André De Toth
• Pitfall (1962 film), a 1962 film directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara

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