n.a coined
term meaning a great
capacity for retaining (and recalling)
information, etc., in the
mind. This is probably a humorous variation of the expression
mind like a
steel trap, meaning that one is very quick in grasping or
understanding things or that one can easily learn a large number of facts about many
different things. A
steel trap is any of various traps used to
catch animals consisting of
spring-operated,
sharp-toothed jaws that snap quickly and tightly shut on an
animal's leg when it steps on the
trap. A
bear trap is a rugged
steel trap designed to capture bears. The
trap is chained to something such as a tree and when a
bear comes by and steps on the
trap, it triggers the
release mechanism, the toothed jaws snap shut on his leg, and the
bear is captured.