different between pitfall vs pratfall

English

Etymology

pit +? fall

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: p?t?fôl, IPA^(key): /?p?tf??l/
• (US) enPR: p?t?fäl, IPA^(key): /?p?tf?l/

Noun

pitfall (plural pitfalls)

1. (figuratively) A potential problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious.

   Synonym: trap

2. (literally) A type of trap consisting of a concealed hole in the ground: victims fall into the hole and are unable to escape.
3. (computing) An antipattern.

   Synonyms: antipattern, dark pattern

4. (mining) Subsidence below ground in a mine, which can cause the ground level above to drop.

Translations

Hyponyms

• ifs, ands, or buts

Derived terms

• pitfalled

Further reading

• pitfall (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

English

Alternative forms

• prat-fall
• pratt-fall

Etymology

prat +? fall

Noun

pratfall (plural pratfalls)

1. A fall onto the buttocks.
2. A humiliating mistake.
3. A staged trip or fall, often for comedic purposes.

   The motivational speaker started with a pratfall so he could speak about the importance of getting back up.

Synonyms

• (a humiliating mistake): blunder, howler

Translations

Verb

pratfall (third-person singular simple present pratfalls, present participle pratfalling, simple past pratfell, past participle pratfallen)

1. To fall on to the buttocks.

Derived terms

• prat-fallen
• prat-falling

Translations