time bomb

American  

noun

1. a bomb constructed so as to explode at a certain time.

2. a situation, condition, etc., resembling such a bomb in having disastrous consequences in the future.

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time bomb British  

noun

1. a bomb containing a timing mechanism that determines the time at which it will detonate

2. a situation which, if allowed to continue, will develop into a serious problem

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time bomb Idioms  

1. 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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Etymology

Origin of time bomb

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

"This is an ecological ticking time bomb," said Nina Noelle, of Greenpeace Germany, who has been mapping oil tankers in the region.

From Barron's

After enjoying exceptional tax-deferred growth over the past decade, many retirees now view their individual retirement accounts as tax time bombs.

From Barron's

But the problem with time bombs, I thought gloomily, was that eventually they exploded whether you ignored them or not.

From Literature

In other words, this was a time bomb waiting to go off.

From BBC

But being around them is a ticking time bomb.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• powder keg