Our show today starts off with a bang . Yes , that was the sound of an explosion . That is how we use the phrase “with a bang .” You probably know all three words . An explosion is often loud and dangerous . And it can cause much damage . But you might not know that English speakers often use the word “explosive ” to describe other things . Events or issues that are “explosive ” are likely to happen suddenly and violently . And explosive people can be suddenly violent . There are a few words we often use with “explosive .” These word pairings are good to know for two main reasons . One : they are “go-to ” terms that make word choice easier . And two : Your spoken English will sound more natural , more like a native speaker . It is important to note that not all “explosive ” pairings are bad . An “explosive laugh ,” for example , is not violent . It is simply laughter that happens suddenly and loudly . And if a company experiences “explosive growth ,” the business grows greater than expected and in a shorter amount of time . But generally speaking , we use “explosive ” word pairings when talking about bad things . A few examples are “explosive issue ,” “explosive force ,” “explosive temper ” and “explosive personality .” Let's talk more about that last one . Someone with an explosive personality blows up at the smallest thing . And this can cause problems . Explosive people are quick to have a hostile or even violent reaction to something . You could say they have a short fuse . Many explosives , especially older ones , usually have a fuse . You light the fuse to set off the explosion . So , someone with a short fuse explodes at even small things . They are volatile ! This is the opposite of a long fuse , which takes longer to set off an explosion . People have time run away and take cover . But a short fuse can be dangerous . People don't have time to escape . So , people with short fuses can be dangerous to be around . You never know when they will blow up ! We often use the term “blow up ” to mean lose your temper . This means we are not sure when this person is going to get angry , but we are sure that he or she will . Another term that describes a dangerous or unpredictable situation is powder keg . Many years ago , a powder keg was a small container used to hold gunpowder . These days , a powder keg is something that is likely to explode . We usually use this term to describe a situation that is ready to blow up . I hope you enjoyed this program on explosive terms . Use them the next time you need to describe something exciting or violent .