barnburner

See also: Barnburner and barn burner

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

barn +‎ burner, from the idea of burning down a barn to get rid of a rat infestation.

Pronunciation
  • Audio (AU)(file)

Noun

barnburner (plural barnburners)

  1. (idiomatic) An extremely exciting or successful event or person.
    • 2007 January 26, The New York Times, “Classical Music/Opera Listings”, in New York Times‎:
      Those deathless twin barnburners return to the Metropolitan Opera tonight.
  2. One who burns down a barn.
  3. (slang, chiefly Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Maryland) a strike-anywhere match.

See also
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