To remove the fuse from a bomb to prevent it from exploding, or to reduce tension and make a dangerous situation less serious.
From 'de-' (remove) plus 'fuse.' Fuse comes from Latin 'fusus' (spindle/peg). The term emerged in military contexts and later expanded to mean calming any tense situation.
The phrase 'defusing a situation' is a perfect example of how military vocabulary becomes everyday language—we metaphorically treat emotional conflicts like unexploded bombs that need careful, precise handling to prevent them from 'exploding' into violence.
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