Time Bomb (Noun)
Meaning 1
A problematic situation that will eventually become dangerous if not addressed; "India is a demographic time bomb"; "the refugee camp is a ticking bomb waiting to go off".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The country's rapidly growing national debt is a financial time bomb waiting to explode.
- The outdated and poorly maintained nuclear power plant is a ticking time bomb that poses a significant threat to the surrounding community.
- The rising tensions between the two rival nations are a time bomb that could ignite a full-scale war at any moment.
- The increasing antibiotic resistance is a medical time bomb that could have devastating consequences if left unchecked.
- The poorly managed and overcrowded prison system is a social time bomb that could lead to widespread unrest and violence.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
A bomb that has a detonating mechanism that can be set to go off at a particular time.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The terrorist planted a time bomb in the city square that was set to explode during the rush hour.
- A team of bomb disposal experts carefully defused the time bomb before it could cause any damage.
- The time bomb had been hidden in the luggage compartment of the train for hours before it was discovered.
- The authorities suspected that the time bomb had been set to coincide with the politician's visit to the city.
- A stray dog accidentally triggered the time bomb that had been planted near the embassy.