tinderbox
Flint and steel's home
A tinderbox is a container holding tinder and the implements for striking a flame—historically flint and steel.
Before matches, tinderboxes were essential household items.
The word now appears almost exclusively in its figurative sense: a volatile situation ready to ignite.
A region with ethnic tensions is a tinderbox; so is a relationship on the verge of explosive conflict.
The disputed territory remained a tinderbox for decades.
Ignition temperature threshold
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
- dangerousApt to cause harm
- hazardousLikely to cause injury
- combustibleCapable of burning
unstable · charged · tense · incendiary · crisis · hotspot · brinkmanship · escalation
Spark-producing sedimentary rock
- matchstickFriction-lit fire starter
- sparkTiny fiery particle
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- flameBurning gas made visible
embers · firelighting · steel · firecraft · smolder · shavings · fatwood · magnesium
Liable to sudden change
- touchyEasily upset or offended
- irascibleProne to outbursts
- quick-temperedProne to sudden anger
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
reactive · temperamental · mercurial · thin-skinned · tetchy · testy · petulant · prickly
Inherited family treasure
- VictorianOf a prim era
- relicPreserved ancient object
- artifactHuman-made historical object
- curioOdd collectible item
vintage · collectible · patina · time-worn · brass · engraved · ornate · historical
Container or instance
- chestRibcage region or strongbox
- receptacleContainer for items
- holderOne who possesses
- canisterSealed cylindrical container
caddy · compartment · lid · hinged · wooden · metal · pocket-sized · portable
flashpoint
Ignition temperature threshold
combustible · unstable · charged · tense · incendiary · crisis · hotspot · brinkmanship · escalation · simmering
flint
Spark-producing sedimentary rock
- matchstickFriction-lit fire starter
- sparkTiny fiery particle
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
flame · embers · firelighting · steel · firecraft · smolder · shavings · fatwood · magnesium
volatile
Liable to sudden change
- touchyEasily upset or offended
- irascibleProne to outbursts
- quick-temperedProne to sudden anger
explosive · reactive · temperamental · mercurial · thin-skinned · tetchy · testy · petulant · prickly · irritable
heirloom
Inherited family treasure
curio · vintage · collectible · patina · time-worn · brass · engraved · ornate · historical · estate-sale
case
Container or instance
- chestRibcage region or strongbox
- receptacleContainer for items
- holderOne who possesses
canister · caddy · compartment · lid · hinged · wooden · metal · pocket-sized · portable
- danger zonesdanger zone, danger zones, disaster zone, war zone, war zones
- fire startingfire steel, fire drill, bow drill, hand drill, fire plow
- antiquesantiques, antique furniture, antique, antique coins, Greek vases
- drynessarid, aridity, dry, dehydrated, bone dry
- tensionsstrain, friction, hostility, discord, strife
- escalationescalation, escalate, ratchet up, worsen, intensify
tinderboxfire safe
Heat-resistant storage container
asbestos · fire-resistant material · extinguisher · water bucket · matchbox
tinderboxsafe haven
Protected place of shelter
sanctuary · utopia · demilitarized zone · neutral territory · buffer state