- Powder keg
Powder Keg is a metaphorical term sometimes used when referring to countries or geographical region where political, socio-economic and historical circumstances have made the area prone to outbursts of wars or other conflicts. The analogy is drawn from a perception that certain territories may seem peaceful and dormant until a minor event triggers a large outburst of violence. [http://www.mrdowling.com/706-powderkeg.html] [http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-11-18-voa15.cfm] The term is most often used to simplify and help the understanding of what many times is a complex set of circumstances that lead to conflicts (see diagram of WWI Powder Keg [http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/gcselinks/wars/firstwwlinks/worksheets/explosivewwi.pdf] )
While the term is used sometimes to refer to the entire region of
Europe it is almost always used to specifically describe countries on theBalkan peninsula and particularly theex-Yugoslavian countries . The most cited event attributed to the use of the term was theassassination of Franz Ferdinand that took place inSarajevo ,Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1914 which triggeredWorld War I .More recently the term has also been used to describe other regions in the world such as the
Middle East orPakistan [http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/07/23/rashid/index.html]The term is metaphorical, referring to the original meaning of "powder keg": a barrel of gunpowder.
ee also
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Powder keg of Europe
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См. также в других словарях:
powder keg — powder kegs also powder keg N COUNT 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 … English dictionary
powder keg — powder ,keg noun count a situation that is dangerous and may become violent: Religious conflict has turned the city into a powder keg … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
powder keg — ► NOUN 1) a barrel of gunpowder. 2) a potentially explosive situation … English terms dictionary
powder keg — ☆ powder keg n. 1. a small barrel used to store gunpowder 2. a potential source of violence, war, disaster, etc … English World dictionary
powder keg — noun 1. a potentially explosive state • Hypernyms: ↑danger 2. keg (usually made of metal) for gunpowder or blasting powder • Hypernyms: ↑keg * * * noun, pl ⋯ kegs [count] 1 : a small container that is used to hold gunpowder 2 : a place or… … Useful english dictionary
Powder Keg — Filmdaten Deutscher Titel Powder Keg Produktionsland USA … Deutsch Wikipedia
powder keg — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms powder keg : singular powder keg plural powder kegs a situation that is dangerous and may become violent … English dictionary
powder-keg — see powder keg … English dictionary
powder keg — pow′der keg n. 1) a small, metal, barrellike container for gunpowder or blasting powder 2) a potentially dangerous situation … From formal English to slang
powder keg — /ˈpaʊdə kɛg/ (say powduh keg) noun 1. a small container, shaped like a barrel, for storing gunpowder or powder explosive. 2. a situation in which extreme damage could be easily caused. Also, powderkeg … Australian English dictionary
