landmines
Hidden ground bombs
Landmines are explosive devices buried just below the surface, designed to detonate when stepped on or driven over.
Military forces plant them to deny territory to enemies, but they persist for decades after conflicts end, maiming civilians long after wars conclude.
Figuratively, a landmine is any hidden danger waiting to be triggered: The interview was full of political landmines.
Prone to sudden detonation
- ordinanceOfficial government regulation
- antipersonnelDesigned to injure people
- antitankDesigned against armored vehicles
- detonatorExplosive initiation device
shrapnel · buried · battlefield · warfare · clearance · detection · booby trap · IED
Fabricated body part replacements
- amputeesPeople lacking limbs surgically
- survivorsThose still alive after
- refugeesPeople seeking safety elsewhere
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
clearance · rehabilitation · Cambodia · Afghanistan · Angola · humanitarian · NGO · reconstruction
Concealed risk or peril
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- pitfallHidden danger or drawback
- trapDevice for catching animals
- hazardSource of potential harm
risk · complication · setback · problem · difficulty · controversy · negotiation · relationship
explosive
Prone to sudden detonation
- ordinanceOfficial government regulation
- antipersonnelDesigned to injure people
- antitankDesigned against armored vehicles
detonator · shrapnel · buried · battlefield · warfare · clearance · detection · booby trap · IED · fuse
prosthetics
Fabricated body part replacements
- amputeesPeople lacking limbs surgically
- survivorsThose still alive after
- refugeesPeople seeking safety elsewhere
contamination · clearance · rehabilitation · Cambodia · Afghanistan · Angola · humanitarian · NGO · reconstruction · victims
hidden danger
Concealed risk or peril
hazard · risk · complication · setback · problem · difficulty · controversy · negotiation · relationship · conversation
- weaponsknife, gun, sword, swords, rifle
- armsguns, rifles, pistols, swords, firearms
- jungle warfareguerrilla tactics, dense foliage, jungle boots, machete, infiltration
- Korean DMZDMZ, 38th parallel, demarcation line, armistice line, ceasefire line
- Sri LankaSri Lanka, Ceylon, Colombo, Sinhalese, Tamils
- harmful industriesbig tobacco, cigarettes, arms trade, human trafficking, ivory trade
landminesaerial bombs
Explosives dropped from aircraft
sea mines · naval mines · depth charges · torpedoes · cruise missiles
landminesartillery
Large-caliber battlefield weapons
missiles · rockets · guided munitions · projectile weapons · assault weapons
landminesmine clearance
Removing buried explosives
demining · minesweepers · bomb disposal · safe passage · minesweeping