hand grenade

American  

noun

1. a grenade or explosive shell that is thrown by hand and exploded either by impact or by means of a fuze.

2. a grenade or glass missile containing a chemical, for extinguishing fire.

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hand grenade British  

noun

1. a small metal or plastic canister containing explosives, usually activated by a short fuse and used in close combat

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Etymology

Origin of hand grenade

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hand grenade

Nothing was more intriguing than Dahlem showing there used to be a hand grenade competition, with a student from Huntington Park winning the first competition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 9, 2025

A senior officer in the British Army has been charged after allegedly taking a decommissioned hand grenade through Scotland's busiest airport.

From BBC ● Nov. 24, 2024

Card had been an instructor at an Army hand grenade training range, where it is believed he was exposed to thousands of low-level blasts.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 6, 2024

“The way he comes back at people is truly amazing. He’s out there juggling a razor, a hand grenade and a cobra — and being funny at the same time.”

From Washington Post ● Feb. 19, 2023

Or, more precisely, he’d keep asking questions, keep sighing and staring at the car like it was a hand grenade, until Toby finally told him the truth.

From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss