minefield
UK: ˈmaɪn.fiːld | US: ˈmaɪn.fiːld
n. 1. An area planted with explosive mines.
n. 2. A situation or subject fraught with hidden dangers or complexities.
The word "minefield" combines "mine," derived from Old French "mine" (originally referring to tunnels for undermining fortifications, later adapted to explosive devices), and "field," from Old English "feld" (open land). The term emerged in the early 20th century to describe areas laden with landmines, later metaphorically extended to describe perilous situations. The logic is straightforward: a literal field of mines → a figurative space of hidden risks.
Soldiers carefully marked the minefield to avoid casualties.
Navigating office politics can feel like walking through a minefield.
The documentary exposed the lingering dangers of abandoned minefields.
His question unintentionally opened a minefield of controversial topics.
Clearing a minefield requires specialized training and equipment.