domino effect

This term describes a chain reaction where a single small event precipitates a series of similar, often catastrophic, occurrences. It carries a strong connotation of inevitability and lack of control, suggesting that once the first piece falls, the subsequent events are unstoppable.

While often used in economic or political contexts to describe systemic collapse, it can also be applied to positive sequences, though the negative implication of a "crash" or "failure" is more common. It is distinct from a "ripple effect," which suggests a spreading influence rather than a linear sequence of triggers.