TNT

See also: tnṯ and t-nt

English

Etymology

The third sense is an initialism of the Tagalog phrase, tago nang tago (literally, “hide and hide”).

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

TNT (plural TNTs)

1. Abbreviation of trinitrotoluene. (an explosive substance used in blasting)
   • 1988 September 9, Harold Henderson, “The City File”, in Chicago Reader‎^[2]:

     "We have grown accustomed to a deadly paradox: the world's greatest megatonnage of TNT is buried in the heart of the earth's most productive agricultural area.

2. (informal) Dynamite.
3. (Philippines, informal) An illegal immigrant.
   • 2009, Joaquin Jay Gonzalez, Filipino American Faith in Action: Immigration, Religion, and Civic Engagement, NYU Press, →ISBN, page 24:

     These illegal immigrants are popularly known as “TNTs,” or tago ng tago (literally, “hide and hide”). Some married American citizens to legalize their stay, while others paid for “green card” marriages.

Derived terms

• ton of TNT

Proper noun

TNT

1. Initialism of Turner Network Television, a U.S. television channel.

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /te.ɛn.te/

• Audio (Paris):

  (file)

Noun

TNT f (plural TNT)

1. (television) Initialism of television numérique terrestre. — digital OTA (digital over-the-air television)

Japanese

Etymology

From English TNT.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ティーエヌティー [tìíénútíꜜì] (Nakadaka – [5])
• IPA^(key): [tʲiːe̞nɯ̟tʲiː]

Noun

TNT(ティーエヌティー) • (tī-enu-tī) 

1. Abbreviation of トリニトロトルエン (torinitorotoruen, “trinitrotoluene”).

Tagalog

Etymology

Either from initialism of takbo nang takbo or tago nang tago.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈtiʔenti/ [ˌt̪iː.ʔɛn̪ˈt̪i]
• Rhymes: -iʔenti

Noun

TNT (slang)

1. illegal immigrant; undocumented immigrant
   • 1987, National Mid-week:

     Bukod sa mga masasamang kontrata at ilegal na rekruter, naririyan ang mga TNT, o tago nang tago. Marami sa mga entertainer at prosti ang may dalang visa na estudyante, propesyonal, o tuns ta.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2003, Ligaya Tiamson- Rubin, Angono, Rizal: Mga talang pangwika at pangkasaysayan, →ISBN:

     Ang TNT ay iyong mga nagturista sa ibang bansa, hindi babalik sa itinakdang araw, maglalagi na doon at tago na nang tago o nagti-TNT. Tinatawag din silang NPA (no permanent address). May mga tinatawag na paper worker o mga TNT na ...

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2006, Lito Casaje, Mga premyadong dula:

     Pero hindi ko sinasabing citizens o immigrants lang, pati mga TNT. Dahil siguro sa psychological trauma due to their illegal stay. Kasi nga, ang problema, kahit gustuhin nilang umuwi ng Pilipinas, hindi sila makauwi dahil hindi naman nila ...

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Derived terms

• mag-TNT