hand grenade

American

noun

a grenade or explosive shell that is thrown by hand and exploded either by impact or by means of a fuze.
a grenade or glass missile containing a chemical, for extinguishing fire.

hand grenade British

noun

a small metal or plastic canister containing explosives, usually activated by a short fuse and used in close combat

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hand grenade

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

How close is good enough for horseshoes, hand grenades and constitutional law under Bruen?

From The Wall Street Journal

Nothing was more intriguing than Dahlem showing there used to be a hand grenade competition, with a student from Huntington Park winning the first competition.

From Los Angeles Times

She reflects that her response — “There is nothing that comes to mind” — landed as if she’d “pulled the pin on a hand grenade.”

From Los Angeles Times

During a emotional exchange between Washington and Wright’s characters, Washington unexpectedly started handling a hand grenade that had been placed in King’s office by the prop man.

From Los Angeles Times

In a throwback to the Soviet era, senior students are once again being taught how to use Kalashnikov rifles and hand grenades as part of a course called "The Basics of Safety and Homeland Defence".

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023