Trip up Meaning in English
expression
Definition
To make someone fall by blocking their foot, or to cause someone to make a mistake, especially unintentionally or by tricking them.
Usage & Nuances
Often informal; 'trip up' can be physical (making someone stumble) or figurative (causing a mistake). In tests or interviews, 'trip up' means to catch someone with a tricky question. Usually used with objects: 'trip someone up', but can be passive: 'I got tripped up.'
Example Sentences
Be careful not to trip up on the stairs.
basic
The teacher tried to trip up the students with a tricky question.
basic
She didn't let the mistake trip her up.
basic
That tricky question really tripped me up in the interview.
natural
Don't let small problems trip you up along the way.
natural
Watch out—he likes to trip people up with tough riddles.
natural