barnburner

See also: Barnburner and barn burner

English

Alternative forms

• barn burner

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Noun

barnburner (plural barnburners)

1. (Midland US, idiomatic) An extremely exciting or successful event or person.
   • 2007 January 26, The New York Times, “Classical Music/Opera Listings”, in New York Times‎^[1]:

     Those deathless twin barnburners return to the Metropolitan Opera tonight.

   • 2023 October 7, Edward Luce, “The unending Republican revolution”, in FT Weekend, page 6:

     It is hard to know what could convince the barnburners to change their ways. The Maga base rewards them with money and the media lavishes them with airtime.

2. (slang, chiefly Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland) A strike-anywhere match.
3. (literal) One who burns down a barn.

Related terms

• barnstormer

See also

• (exciting event): cliffhanger