idiom
Powder Keg
POW-der keg
/ˈpaʊdər kɛɡ/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
powderkeg
Dictionary meaning
A situation or place that is highly dangerous and ready to explode into violence at any moment
History and origin
From gunpowder kegs — barrels of explosive that need only a spark to detonate; metaphorical use dates to at least the 19th century
Examples
- The Balkans were described as a powder keg before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914.
- Analysts warned that competing territorial claims in the region had created a powder keg that any incident could ignite.
Synonyms: tinderbox, flashpoint, time bomb
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