train wreck
Definition of train wreck
1 : a violent and destructive crash involving a train
2 : an utter disaster or mess : a disastrous calamity or source of trouble Six months later, with Washington facing a political train wreck in Iraq, whom did it call? The United Nations. — Fareed Zakaria The train wreck that was Florence Ballard could not be hidden anymore. … Those shows went on without a hitch, but with Ballard progressively drinking harder, disaster awaited them as they trekked from Miami to play several college dates across the South. — Mark Ballard … to create what is termed on Capital Hill a train wreck—a budget crisis so awful that the President would have to seriously negotiate, and yield on taxes. — Elizabeth Drew
From the M-W Editors
First Known Use of train wreck
1874
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