Meaning
trap, trick
- a deceitful trick, snare, or cunning scheme designed to mislead or catch someone
In a sentence
La seconda domanda dell'esame era chiaramente un tranello.
The second exam question was clearly a trick.
L'avvocato ha cercato di tendergli un tranello durante l'interrogatorio.
The lawyer tried to set a trap for him during questioning.
Non siamo caduti nel tranello dei truffatori grazie alla nostra prudenza.
We didn't fall into the fraudsters' trap thanks to our caution.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| tranello | masculine · singular |
| tranelli | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Frequently used in the idioms 'tendere un tranello' (to set a trap) and 'cadere in un tranello' (to fall into a trap).
- Mainly refers to deceptive tricks, tests, or questions rather than physical animal traps (which are 'trappola').