barn burner
Intense competitive event
A barn burner is an exciting, high-energy event, especially a closely contested game or competition that keeps spectators on edge.
Last night's playoff game was a real barn burner.
The term can also describe anything remarkably impressive or intense—a speech, a performance, a party.
Historically, it referred to members of a radical faction of the 1840s New York Democratic Party, supposedly willing to burn down the barn to rid it of rats.
Suspense-driven narrative genre
- nail-biterSuspensefully close competition
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- shootoutArmed confrontation or tiebreaker
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
matchup · rivalry · overtime · comeback · upset · championship · playoff · grudge match
Intensely thrilling or stimulating
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
- intenseExtreme in degree
- high-octaneExtremely energetic or dynamic
- adrenalineEmergency response hormone
edge-of-seat · gripping · riveting · suspenseful · dramatic · pulse-pounding · action-packed · breathtaking
thriller
Suspense-driven narrative genre
- nail-biterSuspensefully close competition
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- shootoutArmed confrontation or tiebreaker
clash · matchup · rivalry · overtime · comeback · upset · championship · playoff · grudge match · face-off
electrifying
Intensely thrilling or stimulating
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
- intenseExtreme in degree
- high-octaneExtremely energetic or dynamic
adrenaline · edge-of-seat · gripping · riveting · suspenseful · dramatic · pulse-pounding · action-packed · breathtaking · exhilarating
fire
Combustion with flames
conflagration · scorched · charred · rural · farmstead · incendiary · political · campaign · rally · stump speech
- Country Musichonky tonk, Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, CMT, country pop
- showstoppersshowstopper, showstoppers, knockout, knockouts, stunner