a strong metal pot with a tight lid (= cover), that cooks food quickly by steam under high pressure 高压锅；压力锅 a situation that is difficult or dangerous because people are likely to become anxious or violent 一触即发的危险局势；剑拔弩张的形势 I needed to get away from the pressure cooker atmosphere of the campus during finals week. 在决赛期间，我需要远离校园的高压锅气氛。 They performed wonders in keeping the lid on the pressure cooker of a rapidly rising jail population. 他们为保持快速增长的监狱人口的压力锅盖上了奇迹。
