miasma of tension
- noun
- /miˈæzmə əv ˈtɛnʃən/
:
miasma de tensión
- The miasma of tension before the exam was almost unbearable for the students.
Examples
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She walked into the meeting and immediately sensed the miasma of tension hanging in the air.
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A miasma of tension settled over the family after the news was announced.
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The room was filled with a miasma of tension after the argument.
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During the meeting, a miasma of tension hung in the air.
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A miasma of tension settled over the family after the news was announced.
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She walked into the meeting and immediately sensed the miasma of tension hanging in the air.
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The miasma of tension before the exam was almost unbearable for the students.
Synonyms
509
3.2
A feeling of nervousness and anger between people or inside a person
1
9.3
A bad spreading feeling of fear or suspicion in a place
A bad, unhealthy air that makes people feel sick
A quiet feeling of worry or anger that people do not show
Antonyms
How Tense
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'miasma' denotes a pervasive or oppressive atmosphere and the modifier 'of tension' specifies the content of that atmosphere, so the combined meaning ('a pervasive atmosphere of anxiety or stress') follows from the constituents. The 'X of Y' construction and the metaphor of an atmosphere filled with a quality are common across languages, making the expression predictable for learners who know the component words.
Etymology
Miasma of tension uses miasma, an old word for 'bad air', and tension, meaning worry or stress. So it paints a picture of worry filling a room like a heavy smell, which is why it means 'a very strong and unpleasant feeling of anxiety'.