Kafkatrap
English
Etymology
Kafka + trap, coined as a noun kafkatrapping in 2010 by Eric Raymond in reference to Franz Kafka's story The Trial (Der Proceß, published 1925), in which a man is accused of crimes that are never specified.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 291: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkæf.kəˌtræp/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 291: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkɑf.kəˌtræp/
Noun
Kafkatrap (plural Kafkatraps)
- A sophistical rhetorical device in which any denial by the accused serves as evidence of guilt.
- Jill said Jack was paranoid, and when he told her he was not she just nodded knowingly. It was a perfect Kafkatrap.
Verb
Kafkatrap (third-person singular simple present Kafkatraps, present participle Kafkatrapping, simple past and past participle Kafkatrapped)
- To employ a Kafkatrap.