briefcase bomb
- noun
- /ˈbrifˌkeɪs bɑm/
- NSFW
:
bomba de maletín
- After a thorough investigation, they discovered that the briefcase bomb was meant to detonate during the meeting.
Examples
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The police found a briefcase bomb in the abandoned car parked outside the bank, prompting an evacuation.
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Airport security is now checking all luggage, including any briefcase bomb threats, to ensure passenger safety.
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Knox, carrying the briefcase bomb, gets into his waiting helicopter, followed closely by the Thin Man.
Fiction book (2000)
Synonyms
∞
1.8
A container with explosive material that makes a large explosion and damages things
40
4.1
An object made to burst violently and cause damage
1
7.8
A small bomb hidden in an envelope that explodes when opened
1
3.4
A bomb set to explode at a fixed time
1
5.6
A hidden device that explodes when someone opens a box or envelope
1
7.9
An explosive hidden inside a shoe that someone can make explode secretly
1
5.6
A bomb you can make explode from far away using a small device you hold
An explosive hidden inside a package or envelope that explodes when opened
How Portable
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a bomb hidden inside a briefcase' is directly and compositionally derived from combining 'briefcase' (a flat case for documents) with 'bomb' (an explosive device). This straightforward noun+noun compound pattern is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The term briefcase bomb comes from the literal image of a bomb hidden inside a briefcase, an ordinary small work bag. People put explosives into normal briefcases so the device looked 'hidden' and 'portable', and so today briefcase bomb means a hidden bomb meant to explode.