trap of expectations

1 7.5

A feeling of being held back by what other people expect you to do

noun

: trampa de expectativas

She struggled for years to break free from the trap of expectations imposed by her community.

Examples

Many students experience the trap of expectations when trying to meet their parents' goals.
Artists often feel stifled by the trap of expectations placed upon them by their audience.
She felt caught in a trap of expectations from her family.
Many young adults struggle with the trap of expectations imposed by society.
Many young adults struggle with the trap of expectations imposed by society.
Many students experience the trap of expectations when trying to meet their parents' goals.
Artists often feel stifled by the trap of expectations placed upon them by their audience.

Synonyms

societal trap

vstrap of expectations

7.7

A situation where what others expect limits a person's choices

is about feeling confined and pressured by other people

cage of expectations

vstrap of expectations

9.8

A situation where people feel trapped by what others think they should do

focuses on the inner experience of being confined rather than on rules

thumbscrew of expectation

vstrap of expectations

Informal

9.9

Strong pressure you feel because other people want you to do well

covers a broader sense of feeling confined or pressured without intense pain

Antonyms

liberation

140 3.9

The act of setting people free from control or unfair treatment

freedom

2 1.1

Not having to do something a rule requires

How Constraining

trap of expectations

1 7.5

conformity

22 4.8

norm

182 3.7

expectation

706 2.8

Surface Forms

trap of expectations singular

traps of expectations plural

Morphology

trap + of + expectation

The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: a 'trap' that is constituted by 'expectations' clearly conveys being confined or pressured by others' expectations. This is a transparent metaphorical composition (akin to 'trapped by expectations') that is cross-linguistically common and should be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the component words.

Etymology

The phrase trap of expectations paints a clear picture: imagine a trap like a cage or net called expectations that catches a person so they cannot move freely. That's why it means 'feeling stuck' or 'pressured' by what others want.