https://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2009/06/22/the-monkey-trap/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usWed, 10 Jun 2026 14:18:40 -0400<![CDATA[The Urban Dictionary defines a monkey trap as a snare for &#8220;animals too smart to fall for an ordinary trap i.e. monkeys and people. It works by appealing to their greed such as a job that sucks but pays to well to let go of, or a relationship which is empty or destructive but offers certain perks which make it hard to escape. The original monkey trap involves a hollow coconut chained to a stake and baited with food. It has a hole large enough for the monkey to put its hand into, but too small to remove its hand while holding the bait. The monkey needs only to let go to escape, but gets caught because it refuses to let go in its panic to keep its precious find.&#8221; For those who would laugh at the stupidity of monkeys the Urban Dictionary article notes that humans have been known to fall for the same snare. One prime example is that of a job that the employee hates, but is too well-paid for him to quit.]]>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:40:16 -0400<![CDATA[Richard Fernandez]]>https://pjmedia.com/richard-fernandez/2009/06/22/the-monkey-trap-n188608