Dictionary definition of “run the traps”

run the traps

v. phr. to investigate or pursue all possible options. Also run the trap line. Subjects: English, Politics

Editorial Note: This term is especially common in politics. There is an American football term of the same name that refers to a type of offensive play. Etymological Note: The information in the 1993 citation probably refers to the correct origin of the term.

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Citations: 1983 William Safire New York Times Mag. (Feb. 27) “Right Stuff In The Bully Pulpit” p. 19: I ran the traps around the lexical trade, even asked my brother, who assured me it wasn’t Robert Louis Stevenson. 1984 Allan Cromley Sunday Oklohoman (Oklahoma City, Okla) (Dec. 2) “Tip’s Slips Won’t Stop Re-Election”: Jones said he is “running the traps” to determine whether he has the votes to seek a rules change when the Democrats caucus. If successful, he then would have to beat out Panetta, which would be a tough fight. 1991 Rebecca Boren Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Wash.) (Nov. 27) “Gop Strategist Reveals He Has Aids”: I ran the trap line to see how the votes were, and there just weren’t enough votes. 1993 William Safire Safire’s New Political Dictionary p. 646: A related metaphor is run the traps. A hunter will check his traps in the morning to see what animals were caught; a reporter will “run the traps” of his sources to check out a story. 1998 Bonny L. Herman Los Angeles Times (May 4) “First a Plan, Then a Solution to Transportation Problems” p. B15: The Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. (VICA) recently sent a delegation of local business executives to Washington, D.C., to build relationships with—and, we hope, influence—the nation’s key legislative decision makers. In so doing, VICA ran the traps, meeting with the administration, Welfare to Work and the Department of Labor, among others. 2000 Duncan Hunter (Political Transcripts by Federal Document Clearing House) (Mar. 2) “House Armed Services Committee Holds Hearing On Implementation Of Department Of Energy Reorganization”: When somebody down in the—in the lower level of the operation—on the operational area wants to affect a change or doesn’t want to go along with the policy, they can run the trap line and go up through the back door and try to get somebody in your office to change it. 2001 Jim Barnett Oregonian (Portland) (Feb. 19) “Wu Tries To Revive Tech Visa Idea” p. D1: In early 2000, Wu began “running the trap lines” of potential opposition. 2004 Ron Suskind The Price of Loyalty (Jan. 13) p. 44: The need to really “run the traps” on every potential presidential move was more important for this Bush than for his father or Gerald Ford, both of whom had vast experience in the federal government.

Posted 5 Apr 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend