domino effect

Word parts

domino + effect

Expression

Expression domino effect

Pushing a single domino in a line causes all the dominoes in front of it to fall. This is where the domino effect gets its name from.

1. A domino effect is when one event causes a long series of other things to occur.

Related words

• butterfly effect
• demonstration effect
• ripple effect
• slippery slope
• snowball effect