Definition

Noun: A small, handheld explosive weapon designed to be thrown by a soldier. It typically consists of a metal casing containing explosive material and a fuse mechanism that detonates after a short delay.

Usage

The term "hand grenade" specifically refers to the portable, thrown type of grenade. It is a compound noun where "hand" modifies "grenade" to indicate the method of deployment. - It is used as a countable noun (e.g., a hand grenade, three hand grenades). - It commonly appears in military, historical, and security contexts.

Examples

• The soldier pulled the pin and threw the hand grenade into the enemy trench.
• Training includes learning the proper technique for throwing a hand grenade.
• The museum displayed a collection of historical hand grenades from World War II.

Advanced Usage

• "To cook off a hand grenade": A dangerous practice of holding the grenade after releasing the safety lever to reduce the enemy's time to react before it explodes.
  • The veteran described the extreme risk of trying to cook off a hand grenade.

Variants and Related Words

• Grenade (noun): The broader category of explosive projectiles, which can include rifle grenades or launched grenades. A "hand grenade" is a type of grenade.
• Fragmentation grenade (noun): A common type of hand grenade designed to produce shrapnel upon explosion.
• Pineapple grenade (noun): An informal term for a specific, grooved oval-shaped hand grenade, like the US Mk 2.

Synonyms

• Grenade: The general term, though it can encompass non-hand-thrown variants.
• Explosive device: A much broader and more formal term.

Related Phrases

• "Pull the pin (on a hand grenade)": To activate the grenade by removing the safety pin.
  • Once you pull the pin on a hand grenade, the lever will release.
• "Live hand grenade": A grenade that is armed and capable of exploding.
  • The area was evacuated after the discovery of a live hand grenade.

Related Idioms

• "Like a hand grenade in a phone booth": An idiom describing a situation that is intensely chaotic, destructive, or confined with no escape.
  • Arguing with both of them at once was like having a hand grenade in a phone booth.

Noun

1. a grenade designed to be thrown by hand