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nounnoun

das Pulverfass, ¨-er

powder keg

Definition & meaning

A Pulverfass literally means a powder keg: a barrel used to store gunpowder.

Figuratively, it describes a highly volatile situation or place where tensions could quickly lead to conflict or disaster. For example, a region with severe political tensions might be called a powder keg.

Grammar & Word origin

Pulverfass is a neuter noun: das Pulverfass. Its plural is die Pulverfässer.

It is a compound of Pulver (“powder”) and Fass (“barrel”).

Synonyms & antonyms

There is no exact synonym for both the literal and figurative meanings.

  • Krisenherd (“hotspot” or “center of crisis”) refers to a place where conflict or trouble is concentrated; unlike Pulverfass, it does not necessarily imply that tensions are about to erupt.
  • Zeitbombe (“time bomb”) emphasizes a hidden danger expected to cause trouble eventually, rather than a tense situation that could explode at any moment.
  • Zündstoff (“fuel for conflict”) means something that can provoke or intensify a dispute, not the volatile situation itself.

There is no direct antonym. stabile Lage (“stable situation”) can serve as a contextual opposite in the figurative sense.

Common phrases & collocations

  • ein Pulverfass sein — to be a powder keg; to be extremely volatile
  • auf einem Pulverfass sitzen — to be in a precarious, highly tense situation
  • ein Pulverfass zum Explodieren bringen — to cause a volatile situation to erupt

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Examples

Der alte Keller glich einem Pulverfass.noun

The old cellar resembled a powder keg.

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