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.

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