something that could cause somebody to have problems or feel embarrassed, especially somebody in a public position 造成麻烦（或使人当众出丑）的事物 Putting even more tax on fuel could prove to be a banana skin for the government. 对燃油征收更多的税收可能被证明对政府不利。 The company has acquired an unhappy knack of slipping on banana skins. 那家公司中了圈套，犯了一个愚蠢的错误。