From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishspring a trapspring a trapa) CATCHif an animal springs a trap, it is caught by the trap b) TRICK/DECEIVEto make someone say or do something by tricking them → spring
Examples from the Corpus
spring a trap• On the one hand, Jaq must seem capable of irony and flexible tolerance - perhaps only soas to spring a trap.• He sprang traps and ambushes on the Witch King's forces. 