Akademik

1. someone who burns down a barn (Freq. 1)

2. an impressively successful event

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the rock concert was a real barnburner

/bahrn"berr'neuhr/, n.

1. Informal. something that is highly exciting, impressive, etc.: The All Stars game was a real barnburner.

2. Chiefly Pennsylvania. a wooden friction match.

3. (cap.) a member of the progressive faction in the Democratic party in New York State 1845-52. Cf. Hunker.

[1835-45, Amer.; BARN¹ + BURNER; (def. 3) so called with reference to burning down a barn to get rid of rats]