A tripwire is a passive triggering mechanism. Typically, a wire or cord is attached to some device for detecting or reacting to physical movement. A tripwire may be a wire attached to one or more mines — normally bounding mines and the fragmentation type — in order to increase their activation area..Alternatively, tripwires are frequently used in boobytraps, whereby a tug on the wire (or release of tension on it) will detonate the explosives. tripwire may be a wire attached to one or more mines — normally bounding mines and the fragmentation type — in order to increase their activation area. . Alternatively, tripwires are frequently used in boobytraps, whereby a tug on the wire (or release of tension on it) will detonate the explosives.