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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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