touchpaper

/ ˈtʌtʃˌpeɪpə /

noun

1. paper soaked in saltpetre and used for firing gunpowder

2. to do something that will cause much anger or excitement

Example Sentences

The touchpaper had been lit – and thankfully Ashe was now pretty much full to witness it.

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Brexit lit the blue touchpaper when the UK government decided to plough ahead with its flagship Withdrawal Bill against the express wishes of MSPs - prompting them to pass their own legislation.

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Asian markets are set for an explosive open on Wednesday after a below-consensus reading of headline U.S. inflation lit the touchpaper for a rally across all risky assets on Tuesday, although investors will be mindful of the steep rise in U.S. bond yields.

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He diverted it into his own net, unwittingly lighting the blue touchpaper.

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Reddit-fuelled stock craze has lit the touchpaper, he said.

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