Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun powder_keg

2 senses of powder keg

Sense 1
powder keg -- (a potentially explosive state)
       => danger -- (a cause of pain or injury or loss; "he feared the dangers of traveling by air")

Sense 2
powder keg -- (keg (usually made of metal) for gunpowder or blasting powder)
       => keg -- (small cask or barrel)