Is there any other sort of trap? Happytrap? Funtrap? Clap comes from the German or possibly Dutch word for 'to pat'. Why is talking rubbish about patting a trap? Help.
trap - as in "keep your trap shut" is mouth, clap - as in "I'm going to clap you in the mouth if you give me any more of your nonsense, sonny" is er, thump or something - hence "claptrap" . . .
4 comments:
It's theatrical slang - you can find a (much) fuller explanation here - http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-cla1.htm
Thanks Stew.
St
So talking claptrap is trapping a clap. Doing it just for applause. I talk claptrap all the time then. Most bloggers probably do.
trap - as in "keep your trap shut" is mouth, clap - as in "I'm going to clap you in the mouth if you give me any more of your nonsense, sonny" is er, thump or something - hence "claptrap" . . .
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