一触即发

一觸即發
yīchùjífā
idiom #15,762

Meanings

  1. 1 could happen at any moment
  2. 2 on the verge of breaking out
  3. 3 hair-trigger

Examples

Liǎng guó zhījiān de zhànzhēng yīchùjífā.
War between the two countries could break out at any moment.
Júshì yǐjīng dào le yīchùjífā de dìbù.
The situation has reached a hair-trigger point.

Tips

memory
一触即发: 'one touch, instantly fires' — like a loaded gun with its safety off. Touch it and it goes off. Used for tense situations about to explode.

Stroke Order

chù