time bomb

Từ điển WordNet v3.1 - WordNet Dictionary

noun

1. a bomb that has a detonating mechanism that can be set to go off at a particular time
• Syn:
infernal machine
• Hypernyms:
bomb
2. a problematic situation that will eventually become dangerous if not addressed
- India is a demographic time bomb
- the refugee camp is a ticking bomb waiting to go off
• Syn:
ticking bomb
• Hypernyms:
situation