View synonyms for

time bomb

noun

a bomb constructed so as to explode at a certain time.
a situation, condition, etc., resembling such a bomb in having disastrous consequences in the future.

time bomb

noun

a bomb containing a timing mechanism that determines the time at which it will detonate
a situation which, if allowed to continue, will develop into a serious problem

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Word History and Origins

Origin of time bomb¹

First recorded in 1890–95

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Idioms and Phrases

A situation that threatens to have disastrous consequences at some future time, as in That departmental dispute is a time bomb just waiting to go off . This term alludes to an explosive device that is set to go off at a specific time. [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

As a human rights attorney, I’ve seen some of the worst conduct by government employees, military officials, and private contractors – often done under the weighty guise of protecting the country from mythical ticking time bombs.

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Some Wodehouse lines are like time bombs, detonating with a momentary delay.

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And India is sitting on a ticking health time bomb.

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With Leftie and Lonnie en route to the cabin, the score pulses with what sounds like a ticking time bomb, plus something like an eerie musical saw for some extra shivers.

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A County Tyrone solicitor who represents a group of affected residents has described the problem as "a ticking time bomb" that needs to be addressed.

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Related Words

powder keg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

time-binding time capsule

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