Meaning & use
land mine
An explosive device buried just below the ground's surface, designed to detonate when stepped on or driven over.
See it in a sentence
Deminers worked carefully to clear old land mines from the former battlefield.
The charity funds programs to remove land mines left behind after the war.
A note on using this word
Figuratively, "land mine" describes a hidden risk or problem that could cause serious trouble if triggered, as in "the contract is full of legal land mines."
Words with a similar meaning
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