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Petard for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: pɪ'tɑrd

What does Petard really mean?

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Hey there, buddy! I heard you're curious about the word "petard." Well, let me break it down for you in the simplest way possible. Imagine you're playing a game of tag with your friends, and you have this special device that helps you catch them super fast. That device is like a petard!

A petard is actually a small explosive device that was used a long time ago, especially during wars. It was like a little bomb that people would set up to blow up things like walls or gates. So, just like your special tag-catching device helps you get your friends, a petard helped people break through barriers. Cool, huh?

Now, here's where it gets interesting. The word "petard" also has another meaning that's used nowadays. It's a way to describe someone who does something that ends up harming themselves instead of the person they intended to harm. Kind of like tripping over your own feet while trying to push someone else. Ouch!

So, if someone says that someone was "hoisted by their own petard," it means they ended up getting hurt by their own actions. It's like seeing someone slip on a banana peel they put on the ground themselves, while trying to make someone else slip. Silly, right?

Anyway, next time you hear or come across the word "petard," remember that it's either a small explosive device used in the past or a way of describing someone who accidentally hurts themselves while trying to hurt someone else. So, just like your special tag-catching device in the game, a petard either helps you break through barriers or ends up causing your own downfall. Pretty interesting, don't you think?


Revised and Fact checked by David Williams on 2023-10-29 19:04:41

Petard In a sentece

Learn how to use Petard inside a sentece

  • John tried to prank his friend by tying a petard to his door handle and running away before it exploded, making a loud noise.
  • Lucy used a petard to startle the birds away from her garden, so they wouldn't eat the fruits and vegetables.
  • During the celebration, fireworks were set off, and one of them turned out to be a petard, causing a surprise explosion.
  • The team used a petard to blow up a barricade in order to gain access to the building.
  • Sarah attached a petard to her brother's toy car, and when he turned it on, it made a loud bang, scaring him.

Petard Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

explosive device