a powder keg



a powder keg

a situation that could suddenly become extremely dangerous
Usage notes: A powder keg was a wooden container for gunpowder (= a substance used for making explosions).
We left just before the revolution, realizing that we were sitting on a powder keg.
See also: keg, powder

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Iunius-Ancient Roman
'Ofrah-Biblical Hebrew
Ruprecht-German (Archaic)
DravenDRAY-venPopular Culture
NoÉno-E (French, Spanish)French, Spanish, Portuguese
YalÇIn-Turkish