A volatile situation is a situation that is unpredictable and potentially dangerous. It is often compared to a tinderbox or powderkeg, both of which are nine-letter terms used to describe a situation that is ready to explode. A tinderbox is a box filled with combustible material, such as dry grass, that can easily be set alight. A powderkeg is a barrel filled with gunpowder, which is highly explosive. Both terms are used to describe a situation that is on the brink of disaster.