"powder keg" in Chinese (Traditional)

• 火藥桶
• 危險局勢

Definition

「火藥桶」指非常緊張或不穩定、隨時可能爆發衝突或變得危險的情況。原本是指裝滿火藥的桶。

Usage Notes (Chinese (Traditional))

多為比喻用語，形容非常緊張或危險的社會、政治情勢，常見於新聞，如「該地區是個火藥桶」。不描述小矛盾，暗示隨時可能爆發。

Examples

The border area became a powder keg after weeks of protests.

邊境地區經過數周抗議後成了一個**火藥桶**。

That meeting was a powder keg—everyone was angry.

那場會議簡直是**火藥桶**—每個人都很生氣。

This classroom is a powder keg before exams.

考試前這間教室簡直成了**火藥桶**。

After the power outage, the city felt like a powder keg ready to explode.

斷電後，整座城市像個隨時要爆炸的**火藥桶**。

With tensions so high, just one small incident could turn the place into a powder keg.

氣氛如此緊張，一點小事就能讓這裡變成**火藥桶**。

Everyone was so on edge, you could tell it was a real powder keg situation.

大家神經緊繃，你一看就知道是個真正的**火藥桶**局勢。