barn burner
noun phrase (US)

- something, especially a closely contested sports event, that is very exciting, intense, dramatic, etc.

Collins Dictionary

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ORIGIN

The ‘Barnburners’ were one of two competing factions in the New York State Democratic Party in the middle of the 19th century.

The name alluded to the story of an old Dutchman who relieved himself of rats by burning his barns which they had infested.

Today, barn burner is often used to describe an intense sporting event or some other contest, such as a political race, which arouses a good deal of excitement.

Barn burner is almost always rendered as two words, but hyphenated when used as an adjective. It is often augmented with the word “real”, as in “a real barn burner”.

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SYNONYMS

BARN BURNER, biggie, corker, crackerjack, doozy, hit, hot stuff, humdinger, knockout, marvel, one for the books, ripsnorter, smash, smasheroo, spectacle, something else, something to shout about, something to write home about, stunner

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“To see one of the very best BARN BURNER speeches of the 20th century, watch this 2-minute clip on YouTube: John F Kennedy: “We choose to go to the moon”. “

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THANKS to Markus for suggesting today’s word

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Paul Smith