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China syndrome

idiom

A hypothetical kind of catastrophic failure in which a nuclear reactor melts through the floor of its containment system and (if on land) penetrates the Earth's surface, continuing downward as if (from a Western Hemispheric point of view) traveling through the planet toward China.


Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all the tea in China

    Something very valuable or priceless.

  2. 02

    bull in a china shop

    A person who is clumsy, aggressive, without care, concern or self-control.

  3. 03

    Derangement Syndrome

    The acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal and balanced people triggered by the mention of a specific topic.

  4. 04

    floppy infant syndrome

    Hypotonia.

  5. 05

    made in China

    Cheaply manufactured; of poor or low quality, (especially) if made in East Asia.

  6. 06

    Nixon in China

    Suggesting the ability of a politician with an unassailable reputation among his or her supporters for representing and defending their values to take actions that would draw their criticism and even opposition if taken by someone without those credentials.

  7. 07

    price of tea in China

    Something that is relevant or important, usually used to emphasize that another, compared thing is irrelevant, unimportant, or non sequitur, or that someone unaware of it is ignorant, etc.

  8. 08

    revolving door syndrome

    A situation in which employee turnover in an organization is inordinately high.

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