tinderbox

noun

1. （旧时点火用的）火绒盒，引火盒
   a box containing dry material, used in the past for lighting a fire
2. 一触即发的形势
   a situation that is likely to become dangerous

1. 危机四伏的形势
   If you say that a situation is a tinderbox, you mean that it is very tense and something dangerous or unpleasant is likely to happen very soon.

1. In this volatile America, this tinderbox of a world, President Kennedy led with a steadying hand, defusing the most perilous crisis of the Cold War without firing a single shot.
   在这个动荡的美国，在这个战争一触即发的地区，肯尼迪总统以稳健之手担纲，不费一枪一弹化解了冷战时期最危险的危机。
2. The racial tension in the area is a tinderbox ready to ignite.
   这个地区的种族紧张局势一触即发。
3. When another spark lit the tinderbox this month, it was all over-though not before another hundred had died.
   当本月另一火花引燃了这个火药箱，一切都结束了&虽然不久前另有百来人死亡。
4. The little boy was glad to hear that, so he ran to the soldier's house for the tinderbox and brought it to the soldier.
   小男孩听了很高兴，便跑到士兵的屋里找到火绒箱，将它带给士兵。
5. What do you want to do with this tinderbox?@ said the soldier.
   “你打算怎么处理这个火绒箱呢？”士兵问。
6. Then he took out his tinderbox and struck the flint.
   于是他拿出火绒箱，并敲击打火石。
7. Have you got my tinderbox?@ asked the old witch.
   “拿到我的火绒箱了吗？”老巫婆问。
8. He took out the tinderbox and the candle.
   于是他拿出火绒箱和蜡烛。
9. He took the money and the tinderbox and went to a town.
   士兵带着钱以及火绒箱走到一座城镇。
10. He took out his tinderbox and struck the flint once, twice, three times!
    他拿出火绒箱敲击一次、二次、三次！
11. Dublin city is currently like a tinderbox just waiting to explode.
    都柏林市现在就像一个马上要爆炸的火药桶。
12. But the old witch would not tell him how to use the tinderbox.
    但是老巫婆仍然不肯告诉他该如何使用火绒箱。
13. Suddenly he remembered that there was a candle in the tinderbox.
    突然间，他想起火绒箱里有一根蜡烛。

noun

1. a box for holding tinder

2. a dangerous state of affairs
   1. the Balkans are the tinderbox of Europe