santabarbara
powder magazine
noun sahn-tah-BAR-bah-rah Rare
Origin: Named after Saint Barbara, patron saint of artillerymen
Also means
powder keg
Usage Note
Santabarbara (also written santa barbara) is the compartment on a ship or in a fort where gunpowder and ammunition are stored. Figuratively, essere una santabarbara means to be a powder keg — a situation ready to explode. It is invariable in the plural.
Examples
"Ho sgobbato tutta la settimana per finire il progetto."
Natural Translation
The explosion started from the ship's powder magazine.
Related Words
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