critical mass

黑山老妖

"Critical mass"
定义：科学解释是核聚变的临界点。现在用来形容人数达到一定的最低点来维持一个组织或是活动的运作。
Common definition: The minimum amount of resources/people needed to start and/or sustain a project or event.
Original definition: The smallest amount of fissionable material necessary for a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Scary stuff.

举例：
Once the membership of our forum hits(reaches) critical mass, it will move on its own momentum, as if it's a miniature society.
当论坛的会员达到一定的数量以后，它会像一个社区一样自己运作。

bulaohu

Once the bad debts from reckless lending has accumulated to a critical mass, hell breaks loose and there is no turning back.