barnburner
barnburner · barnburners
One who burns down a barnOne who burns down a barn.
Meaning
3 sensesOne who burns down a barn.
someone who burns down a barn
(New Jersey, Pennsylvania, slang)Synonym of phosphorus match, a friction match that can be struck anywhere.
(idiomatic)A sensationally exciting or successful event or person.
an impressively successful event
Origin
From barn + burner. In exaggerated use, from the hyperbolic idea of someone burning down aFrom barn + burner. In exaggerated use, from the hyperbolic idea of someone burning down a barn to end a rat infestation.
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