Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1800-1900
Origin: claptrap 'something intended to make the people watching a show clap' (18-19 centuries)

claptrap

 noun
     
clap‧trap [uncountable]
informal talk that is stupid or shows a lack of knowledge:
romantic claptrap
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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