noun

pitfalls

PIT-fawlz

Pitfalls (noun) means Hidden or unexpected difficulties that catch people out, especially ones that are easy to walk into if you are not warned. Example: “The guide lists the common pitfalls of buying a first home.”

noun

Hidden or unexpected difficulties that catch people out, especially ones that are easy to walk into if you are not warned.

"The guide lists the common pitfalls of buying a first home."

"There are real pitfalls in signing a contract you have not read."

Concealed pits dug in the ground to trap animals or people.

"The hunters lined the trail with covered pitfalls."

How to Use Pitfalls

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishProblems you do not see coming until you have already fallen into them.

When to use it

Neutral. Very common in advice, guides and business writing, usually in the plural.

Memory tip

A pitfall is hidden; a drawback is simply a known disadvantage. You avoid pitfalls by being warned about them.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

downfall → drawback →

Common pairings

common pitfalls avoid the pitfalls potential pitfalls pitfalls to watch out for

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The guide lists the common _____ of buying a first home.

Etymology

From Middle English pit + fall, originally a concealed pit dug as a trap for animals; the figurative sense of a hidden danger followed.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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traps hazards snares drawbacks stumbling blocks

Related Words

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a pitfall and a drawback?

A drawback is a disadvantage you can see in advance and weigh up. A pitfall is a danger that is concealed, so people fall into it without realising it was there. Every pitfall is a problem, but not every problem is hidden.

Is "pitfalls" always plural?

No, the singular pitfall is perfectly correct, but the plural is far more common because the word usually appears in lists of things to avoid, as in "common pitfalls".

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