Molotov cocktail

American  

noun

1. a crude incendiary grenade consisting of a bottle filled with a flammable liquid and a wick that is ignited before throwing: used originally for setting fire to enemy tanks during the Spanish Civil War.

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Molotov cocktail British  

/ ˈmɒləˌtɒf /

noun

1. an elementary incendiary weapon, usually a bottle of petrol with a short-delay fuse or wick; petrol bomb

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Molotov cocktail Cultural  

1. An incendiary bomb made from a breakable container, such as a bottle, filled with flammable liquid and provided with a rag wick. Used by the Soviets against the invading German armies in World War II, these bombs were nicknamed after V. M. Molotov, a foreign minister of the Soviet Union at that time.

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Etymology

Origin of Molotov cocktail

First recorded in 1935–40; named after V. M. Molotov

Example Sentences

“Sorry to Bother You” is a Molotov cocktail in movie form, an explosive introduction to the brain of Boots Riley, who blends Michel Gondry’s playfulness with Spike Lee’s verve.

From Washington Post • Jun. 29, 2018

It was a sonic Molotov cocktail that ignited a firestorm when it debuted in the summer of 1988.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2017

The new tactic has been dubbed the “poopootov” in a play on the Molotov cocktail often seen at streets protests in Venezuela.

From The Guardian • May 9, 2017

“A Molotov cocktail of madness, sanity and genius.”

From New York Times • Feb. 20, 2014

"American Idiot" was warmly received in its Berkeley Repertory Theatre debut, and hit Broadway in April 2010 like a musical Molotov cocktail.

From Seattle Times • May 30, 2012