sitting on a powder keg
In imminent danger, in an explosive situation, as in Our office is sitting on a powder keg while management decides whether or not to close us down. This metaphoric term alludes to sitting on a keg of gunpowder that could go off at any moment. [First half of 1900s]
Words nearby sitting on a powder keg
sitten,
sitter,
sitting,
sitting bull,
sitting duck,
sitting on a powder keg,
sitting pretty,
sitting room,
sitting target,
sitting tenant,
sitting trot