trip up

Verb
Synonyms: catchtripstumbleslip up

WordNet 3.0

Verb (3)

  1. detect a blunder or misstep“The reporter tripped up the senator”Synonyms: catch
  2. cause to stumble“The questions on the test tripped him up”Synonyms: trip
  3. make an error“She slipped up and revealed the name”Synonyms: stumbleslip up
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Trip \Trip\, v. t.

1.To cause to stumble, or take a false step; to cause to lose the footing, by striking the feet from under; to cause to fall; to throw off the balance; to supplant; -- often followed by up; as, to trip up a man in wrestling. [1913 Webster]

The words of Hobbes's defense trip up the heels of his cause.— Abp. Bramhall.[1913 Webster]

2.(Fig.): To overthrow by depriving of support; to put an obstacle in the way of; to obstruct; to cause to fail. [1913 Webster]

To trip the course of law, and blunt the sword.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

3.To detect in a misstep; to catch; to convict; also called trip up. [R.] [1913 Webster]

These her women can trip me if I err.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

4.(Naut.) (a) To raise (an anchor) from the bottom, by its cable or buoy rope, so that it hangs free. (b) To pull (a yard) into a perpendicular position for lowering it. [1913 Webster]

5.(Mach.) To release, let fall, or set free, as a weight or compressed spring, as by removing a latch or detent; to activate by moving a release mechanism, often unintentionally; as, to trip an alarm. [1913 Webster +PJC]

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