tinder-box
Old flame maker
A tinder-box is a container holding tinder and implements for starting fires—flint, steel, and dry material that catches sparks.
Before matches, every household needed one.
The figurative sense dominates modern usage: a volatile situation ready to ignite.
A region with ethnic tensions is a tinder-box; so is a room full of feuding relatives.
The disputed territory remained a tinder-box for decades.
Material for starting fires
- flintSpark-producing sedimentary rock
- sparkTiny fiery particle
- dry leavesDesiccated tree debris
- steelCarbon-hardened iron alloy
friction · ignition · combustible · fire steel · birch bark · fatwood · matches · sulfur
Volatile, dangerous situation
- flashpointIgnition temperature threshold
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
- unstableProne to sudden change
- dangerousApt to cause harm
tension · conflict · crisis · eruption · incendiary · hotspot · turmoil · unrest
Holder for fire sticks
- flint and steelSpark-producing ignition pair
- strikerOne who hits targets
- VictorianOf a prim era
- colonialOf occupied territories
pioneer · candlelight · fireplace · 18th century · lantern · household · antique · pocket
kindling
Material for starting fires
- flintSpark-producing sedimentary rock
- sparkTiny fiery particle
- dry leavesDesiccated tree debris
steel · friction · ignition · combustible · fire steel · birch bark · fatwood · matches · sulfur · touchwood
powder keg
Volatile, dangerous situation
- flashpointIgnition temperature threshold
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
- unstableProne to sudden change
dangerous · tension · conflict · crisis · eruption · incendiary · hotspot · turmoil · unrest · spark
matchbox
Holder for fire sticks
- flint and steelSpark-producing ignition pair
- strikerOne who hits targets
- VictorianOf a prim era
colonial · pioneer · candlelight · fireplace · 18th century · lantern · household · antique · pocket · lucifer
tinder-boxincombustible
Unable to catch fire
fire-resistant material · non-flammable · fire extinguisher · fire-retardant · asbestos
tinder-boxsafe haven
Protected place of shelter
sanctuary · haven · stable equilibrium · cooling-off period · demilitarized zone