1. a wire stretched close to the ground that causes someone to trip when walked into
2. a wire that activates a trap, alarm, or explosive device when disturbed
Usage: military
3. something that triggers an unwanted reaction or response
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The soldiers carefully checked for tripwires before advancing through the jungle.
• He stumbled over a tripwire that had been set across the path.
• The explosive was connected to a tripwire hidden in the grass.
• Any mention of politics became a tripwire in their conversations.
• The security system used tripwires to detect intruders.
• She avoided the tripwire topic that always caused arguments.
• The booby trap was activated by a nearly invisible tripwire.