Trainwreck
/ˈtreɪnˌrɛk/noun
A very bad or disastrous event or situation that is happening.
Her presentation was such a trainwreck that no one could believe what they were seeing.
Usage tips
Informal
hot mess,disaster,failure
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphor
Understanding the metaphorical use of 'trainwreck' can allow deeper insights into disaster scenarios.
In relationships, you might say, 'It was a trainwreck, but I couldn't look away.'
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Context
The term can have different emotional weights in cultural contexts, often used humorously in American English.
A friend might say casually, 'That party was a trainwreck, but we had a blast.'
Pro Tip 3/3Nuance
It's important to recognize the nuance between literal and metaphorical usage.
In a sentence, saying 'It's a trainwreck' could either mean something disastrous or an entertaining failure.
Compare with
disasterfiascocatastrophemelt down
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