grenade
- Noun:
- A small explosive bomb thrown by hand or launched from a weapon: A grenade is a weapon consisting of an explosive charge inside a container, designed to be thrown by hand or projected from a launcher to inflict damage on enemy personnel or materiel through fragmentation, blast, or other effects.
- Noun:
- The soldier pulled the pin and threw the grenade into the enemy trench.
- Police used tear gas grenades to disperse the crowd.
- He was trained in the safe handling of various types of grenades.
"To cook off a grenade": A dangerous tactic of holding a live grenade for a few seconds after pulling the pin before throwing it, reducing the time an enemy has to react or throw it back.
- The veteran warned the recruits never to try to cook off a grenade; it's far too risky.
"Dud grenade": A grenade that fails to explode after being activated.
- They found a dud grenade from the war buried in the field.
Hand grenade (n): The most common type, designed specifically to be thrown by hand.
- The infantryman carried several hand grenades on his vest.
Grenade launcher (n): A weapon designed to fire grenade cartridges.
- The grenade launcher was mounted under the rifle's barrel.
Grenadier (n): Historically, a soldier specialized in throwing grenades; in modern contexts, often a member of a specific infantry unit.
- The regiment of grenadiers led the assault.
- Explosive device: A general term for any apparatus designed to explode.
- Missile (in the context of a launched projectile): A weapon that is thrown or projected.
(Note: 'Grenade' is primarily a noun and does not commonly form phrasal verbs. The following are related verbal phrases.) - To lob a grenade: To throw a grenade in a high arc. - He lobbed the grenade over the wall.
- To prime a grenade / To pull the pin on a grenade: To activate a grenade by removing its safety pin.
- Once you pull the pin on a grenade, you must throw it.
"Like a live grenade": Used to describe a highly volatile, dangerous, or unpredictable situation or person that must be handled with extreme care.
- The political scandal landed in his lap like a live grenade.
"To drop a grenade (in a conversation)": To introduce a shocking, controversial, or disruptive statement into a discussion.
- He dropped a conversational grenade by suddenly announcing his resignation.
- a small explosive bomb thrown by hand or fired from a missile