land mine

noun

: a mine usually placed just below the surface of the ground and designed to be exploded usually by the weight of vehicles or troops passing over it
often used figuratively
Every aspect of this scheme is a potential land mine.Henry A. Kissinger
a political land mine

Examples of land mine in a Sentence

parents of teenagers never know when they might set off an emotional land mine
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Biden administration’s decision to send antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine in November 2024 was another case of the United States disregarding supposedly universal norms. Sarah Yager, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025 Jubair was taught how to pull the pin of a grenade and to assemble a land mine. Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024 Defense Ballard Partners also registered to lobby on issues related to land mine detection on behalf of the defense technology company Safe Pro Group. Taylor Giorno, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2024 According to the United Nations, land mines threaten lives in more than 70 countries. Ritsuko Kawai, WIRED, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for land mine 

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of land mine was in 1890

Dictionary Entries Near land mine

Cite this Entry

“Land mine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/land%20mine. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

land mine

noun
: a mine placed just below the surface of the ground and designed to be exploded by the weight of the vehicles or troops passing over it
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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