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🇨🇳Chinese Source WordCode: ZH

一触即发

Pronunciation / Transliteration: yī chù jí fā

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Hair-trigger/ˈhɛərˌtrɪɡ.ər/
nounadjectiveCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #14500 frequency
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🇨🇳 Example Sentence in Chinese:

"边境地区的紧张局势一触即发。"

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A gun trigger that can be pulled by a very slight pressure.

    "He adjusted the hair-trigger of his hunting rifle for maximum precision."
As adjective
  1. 1

    Highly sensitive or volatile, capable of reacting instantly or dangerously to the smallest stimulus.

    "The two nations existed in a state of hair-trigger tension along the disputed border."
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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Originating in the late 18th century from firearms terminology, referring to a secondary trigger designed to release the main sear with extremely slight pressure. The term expanded metaphorically during the 19th century to describe volatile human temperaments and situations prone to instant escalation.

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