tinder-box

A careless camper left a tinder-box open near the campfire.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A box for tinder: A small container used to hold tinder (dry, flammable material) and often a flint and steel, used for starting fires before the invention of matches.
   • Something easily ignited or stirred: A metaphorical use meaning a person, situation, or thing that is highly flammable or easily provoked to anger, excitement, or conflict.

Usage Examples

• Literal meaning:
  • The old tinder-box was kept by the hearth for lighting the fireplace. (A container for fire-starting materials.)
• Figurative meaning:
  • The city's political climate was a tinder-box, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. (A situation easily stirred into conflict.)
  • He is a real tinder-box; one wrong word and he loses his temper. (A person who is quick to anger.)

Advanced Usage

• "a tinder-box of emotions": a state of intense, easily ignited feelings.

  • After the argument, the room was a tinder-box of emotions. (Emotions were raw and ready to flare up.)

• "the tinder-box of history": referring to a place or period in history where tensions were high and conflict was imminent.

  • The Balkans in the early 20th century were often called the tinder-box of Europe. (A region prone to sparking major wars.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tinder (n): dry, easily burned material used to start a fire.

  • They gathered dry grass and bark as tinder for the campfire. (Material that catches fire easily.)

• Tinder-dry (adj): extremely dry, like tinder; very flammable.

  • The forest was tinder-dry after months of drought. (Extremely dry and fire-prone.)

• Tinderbox (n) (alternative spelling): same as "tinder-box"; also used as a single word.

  • The situation was a political tinderbox. (A volatile situation.)

Synonyms

• Kindling: small sticks or twigs used to start a fire.
• Powder keg: a situation that is likely to become dangerous or violent (metaphorical).
• Hothead: a person who is easily angered (metaphorical).

Phrasal Verbs

• Blow up: to explode or become very angry, often used with "tinder-box" in context.

  • The tinder-box situation blew up into a full-scale riot. (The volatile situation erupted.)

• Light up: to ignite or become excited.

  • The tinder-box lit up with the smallest spark. (It caught fire easily.)

Related Idioms

• A tinder-box temper: a very short, easily provoked temper.

  • She has a tinder-box temper, so be careful what you say. (She is quick to anger.)

• Strike a match on a tinder-box: to deliberately provoke a volatile situation.

  • His comment struck a match on the tinder-box of their dispute. (His remark ignited the argument.)

• Like a tinder-box: describing something that is ready to catch fire or explode emotionally.

  • The mood in the stadium was like a tinder-box after the controversial goal. (The atmosphere was tense and volatile.)