B2 verb Informel

booby

/ˈbuːbi/

To set a concealed trap or trick intended to surprise, catch, or harm someone unawares; it is often used as a shorthand for 'booby-trap' or, in specific informal contexts, to describe making a foolish mistake.

Exemples

3 sur 5
1

The children decided to booby the hallway with tripwires made of yarn for their babysitter.

The children decided to booby the hallway with tripwires made of yarn for their babysitter.

2

During the inspection, the engineer noted several attempts to booby the electrical panel to prevent unauthorized access.

During the inspection, the engineer noted several attempts to booby the electrical panel to prevent unauthorized access.

3

I totally boobied the presentation by forgetting to bring the flash drive.

I totally boobied the presentation by forgetting to bring the flash drive.

Famille de mots

Nom
booby
Verb
booby
Adverbe
boobishly
Adjectif
boobish
Apparenté
booby-trap
💡

Astuce mémo

Think of the Booby bird, which was named by sailors because it was so 'stupid' it would land right on ships and walk into traps.

Quiz rapide

The pranksters decided to ____ the office chair so it would collapse when someone sat down.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : booby

Exemples

1

The children decided to booby the hallway with tripwires made of yarn for their babysitter.

everyday

The children decided to booby the hallway with tripwires made of yarn for their babysitter.

2

During the inspection, the engineer noted several attempts to booby the electrical panel to prevent unauthorized access.

formal

During the inspection, the engineer noted several attempts to booby the electrical panel to prevent unauthorized access.

3

I totally boobied the presentation by forgetting to bring the flash drive.

informal

I totally boobied the presentation by forgetting to bring the flash drive.

4

Historical records indicate that retreating forces would frequently booby abandoned supplies to hinder the enemy's progress.

academic

Historical records indicate that retreating forces would frequently booby abandoned supplies to hinder the enemy's progress.

5

The acquisition was risky because the target company had boobied the contract with expensive exit clauses.

business

The acquisition was risky because the target company had boobied the contract with expensive exit clauses.

Famille de mots

Nom
booby
Verb
booby
Adverbe
boobishly
Adjectif
boobish
Apparenté
booby-trap

Collocations courantes

booby a door to rig a door with a trap
booby a prize to set a trick prize
booby the perimeter to set traps around an area
booby an engine to sabotage an engine
boobied with clauses containing hidden legal traps

Phrases Courantes

booby-trap

a device or setup intended to surprise or catch someone

booby prize

a joke prize given to the person who finishes last

to boob it

to make a silly mistake (related informal verb)

Souvent confondu avec

booby vs boob

'Boob' is the standard verb for making a mistake, whereas 'booby' specifically implies rigging a trap.

booby vs buoy

'Buoy' means to keep something afloat or encourage someone, sounding similar but having the opposite intent.

📝

Notes d'usage

The verb 'booby' is almost always used in the sense of 'booby-trapping' something. In British English, 'to boob' is more common for making mistakes, though 'boobied' is occasionally heard.

⚠️

Erreurs courantes

Learners often use this word in formal academic writing where 'to trap' or 'to sabotage' would be more professional.

💡

Astuce mémo

Think of the Booby bird, which was named by sailors because it was so 'stupid' it would land right on ships and walk into traps.

📖

Origine du mot

Derived from the Spanish 'bobo', meaning a fool or an idiot.

Modèles grammaticaux

Transitive verb (requires an object) Regular conjugation: boobies, boobied, boobying
🌍

Contexte culturel

Deeply rooted in mid-20th century military history and slapstick comedy tropes like 'Home Alone'.

Quiz rapide

The pranksters decided to ____ the office chair so it would collapse when someone sat down.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : booby

Mots lis

anticisist

C1

To actively challenge, subvert, or dismantle cisnormative assumptions and institutional gender binaries. This verb describes the proactive process of advocating for gender-diverse perspectives by questioning established social norms.

intermovy

C1

The dynamic and reciprocal movement or exchange occurring between different groups, systems, or states. It specifically highlights the fluid transition and interplay of elements as they shift from one context to another.

exmarist

C1

A person who was formerly a member of the Marist Brothers or the Society of Mary, or a former student who attended a Marist educational institution. It refers to someone who maintains an identity or connection with the Marist tradition after leaving the formal organization.

unmanfy

C1

To deprive someone or something of traditionally masculine qualities, strength, or vigor. It is often used figuratively to describe the process of making a person or a concept appear weak, vulnerable, or less assertive than expected.

obvolvence

C1

The state or condition of being wrapped, enveloped, or enshrouded by a surrounding layer. It is used both literally in biological contexts to describe a covering and metaphorically to describe being obscured or hidden.

oblucation

C1

To render something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible, especially through the use of complex language or ambiguous details. It involves intentionally making a concept difficult to perceive or understand to hide the truth or avoid directness.

overprivine

C1

A formal noun referring to the state or condition of possessing excessive social or economic privilege, often to the point where it diminishes one's ability to empathize with others. It describes a structural or individual abundance of advantages that creates a disconnect from the realities of the less fortunate.

intrapaty

C1

Refers to activities, discussions, or conflicts occurring within a single political party rather than between different parties. It describes the internal dynamics, factionalism, or cohesion among members of the same political organization.

subvadful

C1

To subvadful means to perform a comprehensive and intensive verification of the fundamental layers of a system, argument, or physical structure. It implies a deep-dive analysis that goes beyond surface-level inspection to ensure that hidden foundations are entirely secure and functional.

dislegly

C1

A test-specific term used to describe something that is not permitted by law or established rules. It characterizes actions, behaviors, or documents that violate a formal code or legal standard within a controlled linguistic simulation.

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