claptrap /ˈklæp.træp/
名词(n.)——废话;哗众取宠的言辞。指那些听起来可能很动听,但实际上毫无意义或不真诚的话语。
Don't listen to his claptrap — he doesn't know what he's talking about.
别听他的废话——他根本不知道自己在说什么。
The politician's speech was dismissed by critics as sentimental claptrap designed to win votes rather than address real issues.
批评人士认为那位政客的演讲不过是哗众取宠的煽情废话,目的是拉选票而非解决实际问题。
claptrap 一词最早出现于18世纪初,由 clap(鼓掌)和 trap(陷阱)组合而成。最初指的是戏剧中演员为了"骗取掌声"而故意使用的夸张台词或花招,即一种"掌声陷阱"。后来词义扩展,泛指一切华而不实、空洞无物的言辞。