time bomb

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.

time bomb

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of time bomb¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

"Pieces of space junk are like ticking time bombs," observed Moriba Jah, a professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.

From BBC

"We are facing a crisis of unemployment - for a population that's 2.4 million when you have almost 30% of those people unemployed, it is a crisis. It’s a ticking time bomb," he said.

From BBC

"I'm absolutely certain that it's a ticking time bomb," Judith says.

From BBC

In an interview last month, he had described the southern state of Chiapas as a "time bomb".

From BBC

In an interview last month, he had described the southern state of Chiapas as "a time bomb".

From BBC

Related Words

• powder keg