barnburner

noun

Informal. something that is highly exciting, impressive, etc.: The All Stars game was a real barnburner.

Chiefly Pennsylvania. a wooden friction match.

( initial capital letter ) a member of the progressive faction in the Democratic party in New York State 1845–52.

Compare Hunker.

Origin:
1835–45, Americanism; barn¹ + burner; (def 3) so called with reference to burning down a barn to get rid of rats

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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WordNet

barnburner
noun
1.	someone who burns down a barn
2.	an impressively successful event; "the rock concert was a real barnburner"

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Relevant Questions

00:10

Barnburner is always a great word to know.

So is zedonk. Does it mean:

the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.

a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

Example sentences

We would rate the performance as middle of the pack: it's neither a barnburner nor a slug.

Um, no, even if does offer the potential to be a barnburner.

Related Words

Quote Of The Day

barn·burn·er