humdinger
noun (informal, approval)

- a remarkable or outstanding person or thing of its kind

- something or someone that is noticeable because it is a very good example of its type

- if you describe someone or something as a humdinger, you mean that they are very impressive, exciting, or enjoyable

Oxford Languages / Cambridge Dictionary / Collins Dictionary

—
WORD ORIGIN

“Humdinger” is of US origin — perhaps a blend of hummer “something that moves fast” and dinger “something outstanding”. First attested in a newspaper article in the Daily Enterprise of June 4, 1883, at Livingston, Montana.

Humdinger is used as a superlative to describe something extraordinary or something that is unusually large or powerful. In both cases it is typically used as part of the phrase "A humdinger of a ..." For example: “That was a humdinger of a party!” “That was a humdinger of a storm!”

—
ARTHUR SULLIVAN - HUMDINGER

While attending the performance of one of his Gilbert and Sullivan operas one evening, Arthur Sullivan found himself humming along to one of his own classic melodies. He was soon interrupted by an elderly gentleman in a neighbouring seat: "I've paid my money to hear Sullivan's music," he complained, "not yours!”

—
SYNONYMS

astonishing event, bang-up, barnstormer, bee's knees, bell-ringer, blinder, blockbuster, blue-ribbon, boffo, bombshell, breathtaking, cat's pajamas (whiskers), champion, classic, corker, crackerjack, dazzler, diamond, doozy, dynamite, earth-shatterer, gobsmacker, gold standard,  goodie, groundbreaker, head-turner, heart-stopper, hole in one, homerun, HUMDINGER, hummer, jaw-dropping, jewel, knockout, landmark, lollapalooza, lulu, marvel, masterpiece, masterstroke, mind-blower, one for the books, one-in-a-million, one-of-a-kind, out of this world, paragon, peach, pearl, pièce de résistance, ripsnorter, show-stopper, sight to behold, sizzler, slam dunk, something else, something to write home about, standout, stunner, the eighth wonder, the epitome, the ultimate, thunderbolt, tip-top, tour de force, whopper, winner, zinger

—
SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation, say something like:

"That was a HUMDINGER of a presentation, Bill. Well done!"

—
THANKS to Will and Nina for suggesting today's humdinger of a word!

—
HERZLICHEN DANK to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations.

Every month, I spend evening and weekend hours with my family researching and writing your daily OWAD. It remains FREE, AD-free, and ALIVE thanks to voluntary donations from appreciative readers.

If you aren’t already, please also consider supporting us - even the equivalent of a single cup of coffee a month will help us cover mailing, site hosting, and maintenance costs. Just head over to DonorBox:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-5-3

or bank transfer to Paul Smith
IBAN: DE75 7316 0000 0002 5477 40
Please use your email-address as ‘Verwendungszweck’

Thank you,
Paul