steel trap

American  

noun

1. a trap for catching animals, consisting of spring-operated steel jaws with sharp projections that clamp shut.

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Etymology

Origin of steel trap

First recorded in 1725–35

Example Sentences

He has a mind like a steel trap and never forgets anything he is told or reads.

From Los Angeles Times

“He had a mind like a steel trap when it came to where everything is,” said Porter, who died in 2015.

From Washington Post

Also, cookbooks: Unless you have a mind like a steel trap or count shorthand among your skills, an audio cookbook is going to be frustrating.

From Washington Post

Granted, the second busiest airport in the nation, built in a sprawling, car-dependent city and perpetually under construction, often feels like a steel trap for traffic, especially during the holidays.

From Los Angeles Times

A funny little round man in hippie clothes with a mind like a steel trap.

From Literature