Phrase guide

trip up

verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To commit an error, make a mistake.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To cause (someone) to commit an error, trick into a mistake.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To fall or stumble.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To cause (someone) to fall or stumble.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

detect a blunder or misstep

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The reporter tripped up the senator

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: catch

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: learn, hear, get word, get wind, pick up, find out, get a line, discover, see

6

verb

Meaning 6

make an error

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She slipped up and revealed the name

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: stumble, slip up

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: err, mistake, slip

7

verb

Meaning 7

cause to stumble

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The questions on the test tripped him up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: trip

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

23 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: in de fout gaan — make a mistake
  • French: se tromper — make a mistake
  • Polish: pomylić się — make a mistake
  • Dutch: tot een fout verleiden — cause to commit an error
  • French: tromper — cause to commit an error
  • French: duper — cause to commit an error
  • French: arnaquer — cause to commit an error
  • Polish: mylić — cause to commit an error
  • Polish: zmylić — cause to commit an error
  • Māori: tūtuki — fall or stumble
  • Polish: potykać się — fall or stumble
  • Polish: potknąć się — fall or stumble
  • Danish: spænde ben — cause to fall or stumble
  • German: Bein stellen — cause to fall or stumble
  • Hungarian: elgáncsol — cause to fall or stumble
  • Italian: fare lo sgambetto — cause to fall or stumble
  • Italian: sgambettare — cause to fall or stumble
  • Māori: rapahuki — cause to fall or stumble
  • Māori: hīrau — cause to fall or stumble
  • Norwegian Bokmål: spenne bein — cause to fall or stumble
  • Norwegian Bokmål: spenne ben — cause to fall or stumble
  • Polish: podstawiać nogę — cause to fall or stumble
  • Polish: podstawić nogę — cause to fall or stumble