time bombnoun [ C usually singular ]
uk/ˈtaɪm ˌbɒm/us/ˈtaɪm ˌbɑːm/time bomb noun [ C usually singular ] (BOMB)
a bomb containing a device that makes it explode at a particular time
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Bombs & missiles
- atom bomb
- ballistic
- ballistic missile
- ballistics
- bomblet
- firebomb
- frag bomb
- fragmentation bomb
- grenade
- guided missile
- minefield
- missile
- Molotov cocktail
- mushroom cloud
- napalm
- silo
- smart bomb
- smoke bomb
- surface-to-air missile
- torpedo
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time bomb noun [ C usually singular ] (DIFFICULT SITUATION)
a situation that is likely to become difficult to deal with or control:
By ignoring the wishes of their employees, the managers are setting/creating a time bomb for themselves.
The prison governors are sitting on a time bomb (= are having to deal with a bad situation that is likely to become difficult to deal with or control).
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Difficult situations and unpleasant experiences
- a (heavy) cross to bear idiom
- a cloud on the horizon idiom
- a fate worse than death idiom
- a hard/tough row to hoe idiom
- a narrow squeak idiom
- barrel
- bind
- crunch
- curse
- eventuality
- fate
- feeding frenzy
- going
- have a bumpy ride idiom
- rum
- schtuck
- shtook
- stalemate
- standoff
- vortex
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