[TOP]powder keg 'powder keg noun a dangerous situation that may suddenly become very violent 危险的局面；一触即发的情势；火药桶 [TOP]powder keg noun countable » a situation or a place that could easily become extremely dangerous 火药桶；一触即发的局势；危险的地方 The build-up of forces in the region is creating a powder keg. 在该地区加强军备是在制造紧张局势。 The new tax is a political powder keg which could result in widespread violence. 新的税收政策是个政治火药桶，会引起大范围的激烈反应。 [TOP]powder keg
1.N-COUNT 可数名词 火药桶（指形势危急的地区或情况） If you describe a situation or a place as a powder keg, you mean that it could easily become very dangerous.
Unless these questions are solved, the region will remain a powder keg. 除非这些问题得到解决，否则该地区会一直是个火药桶。