What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Handicap vs Pitfall - What's the difference?

handicap | pitfall |

As nouns the difference between handicap and pitfall

is that handicap is something that prevents, hampers, or hinders while pitfall is a potential problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious.

As a verb handicap

is to encumber with a handicap in any contest.

handicap

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Captain Edward Carlisle; he could not tell what this prisoner might do. He cursed the fate which had assigned such a duty, cursed especially that fate which forced a gallant soldier to meet so superb a woman as this under handicap so hard.
  • An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race (or other contest of skill) to the competitor possessing disadvantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success.
  • :
  • :
  • (lb) The disadvantage itself, in particular physical or mental disadvantages of people.
  • A race, for horses or men, or any contest of agility, strength, or skill, in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.
  • An old card game.
  • :(Samuel Pepys)
  • Derived terms

    * Benghazi Handicap

    Verb

    (handicapp)
  • To encumber with a handicap in any contest.
  • (by extension) To place at disadvantage.
  • The candidate was heavily handicapped .
  • To estimate betting odds.
  • Grandpa Andy would buy the racing form the day ahead of time so he could handicap the race before he even arrived at the track.

    pitfall

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • a potential problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious.
  • It's usually a simple task, but you should know the pitfalls before you attempt it yourself.
  • A type of trap consisting of a concealed hole in the ground: victims fall into the hole and are unable to escape
  • (computing) An anti-pattern.
  • Synonyms

    * : trap * : anti-pattern, dark pattern

    Derived terms

    * pitfalled