How do you use "Minefield" in a sentence?

Office politics is a minefield — one wrong step and you're in trouble. Tax law is a minefield for small business owners. Talking about politics at Thanksgiving is navigating a minefield.

Minefield

Q: What does "Minefield" mean?

A dangerous, risky situation full of hidden problems. From military minefields where hidden explosives can detonate without warning. Figuratively, any situation with hidden dangers — a political minefield, a legal minefield — is full of risks that aren't immediately obvious.

American Slang Term American ★★★★★ Very Common informal

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Meaning: A dangerous, risky situation full of hidden problems.

充满隐患的危险而高风险的处境。

Una situación peligrosa y arriesgada llena de problemas ocultos.

隠れた問題だらけの危険でリスクの高い状況。

숨겨진 문제로 가득 찬 위험하고 리스크 높은 상황.

From military minefields where hidden explosives can detonate without warning. Figuratively, any situation with hidden dangers — a political minefield, a legal minefield — is full of risks that aren't immediately obvious.

源自军事雷区，隐藏的地雷可能在毫无预警的情况下爆炸。比喻任何暗藏危险的情况——政治雷区、法律雷区——到处都是不易察觉的风险。

Procede de los campos de minas militares, donde explosivos ocultos pueden detonar sin previo aviso. En sentido figurado, cualquier situación con peligros ocultos — un campo de minas político, un campo de minas legal — está llena de riesgos que no son evidentes a simple vista.

隠された爆発物がいつ爆発するかわからない軍事的な地雷原が語源。比喩的に、目に見えない危険が潜んでいる状況——政治的地雷原、法的地雷原——を指す。

숨겨진 폭발물이 경고 없이 터질 수 있는 군사 지뢰밭에서 유래. 비유적으로 정치적 지뢰밭, 법적 지뢰밭 등 눈에 바로 보이지 않는 위험이 가득한 상황을 가리킨다.

Examples

Office politics is a minefield — one wrong step and you're in trouble.
办公室政治就是雷区——走错一步就完了。
La política de oficina es un campo de minas — un paso en falso y te metes en problemas.
社内政治は地雷原だ——一歩間違えれば大変なことになる。
사내 정치는 지뢰밭이야 — 한 발짝 잘못 디디면 큰일 난다.
Tax law is a minefield for small business owners.
税法对小企业主来说就是雷区。
La legislación fiscal es un campo de minas para los pequeños empresarios.
税法は中小企業経営者にとって地雷原だ。
세법은 소기업 경영자에게 지뢰밭이다.
Talking about politics at Thanksgiving is navigating a minefield.
感恩节聊政治简直就是在雷区里穿行。
Hablar de política en la cena de Acción de Gracias es cruzar un campo de minas.
感謝祭で政治の話をするのは地雷原を歩くようなものだ。
추수감사절에 정치 얘기를 하는 건 지뢰밭을 걷는 것과 같다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: risky situations, complicated topics, workplace

Tone: cautionary, nervous

✓ Do Say

It's a minefield out there.
外面就是个雷区。
Es un campo de minas ahí fuera.
あそこは地雷原だよ。
밖은 지뢰밭이야.
That topic is a minefield.
那个话题是雷区。
Ese tema es un campo de minas.
その話題は地雷原だ。
그 주제는 지뢰밭이야.

✗ Don't Say

Very common metaphor — barely sounds military.
非常常见的比喻——几乎听不出军事色彩。
Metáfora muy común — apenas suena a término militar.
非常に一般的な比喩で、軍事的にはほとんど聞こえない。
매우 흔한 비유 — 거의 군사 용어처럼 들리지 않는다.

Origin & History

From literal military minefields — areas where explosive mines are buried. Land mines have been used in warfare since the American Civil War. Figurative use became common in the 20th century.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: All regions