spring loaded
Ready to snap
Spring loaded describes a mechanism held under tension by a compressed or extended spring, ready to release force when triggered: a spring loaded trap, spring loaded hinges.
The term extends to anything primed for quick action or reaction: He was spring loaded to take offense at the slightest criticism.
Also written as one word or hyphenated.
- coilWound circular arrangement
- tensionStretched or strained state
- bounceSpring back after impact
- mechanismMeans by which something operates
- triggerWhat initiates action
hair trigger · release · quick release · snap · snap back · compressed · recoil · catch · latch · trap · click · pistol · mousetrap · retractable pen · jack-in-the-box · pogo stick · hinge · pop
- springsmainspring, hairspring, bedspring, coil, coiled wire
- Skydivingskydiver, freefall, drop zone, tandem jump, exit
mechanism of force/energy storage
spring loadedcounterweighted
Balanced by opposing mass
hand-operated · free-falling · pneumatic · hydraulic · electric
spring, loaded, springs, sprung, springy, springiness, springer, springboard, load