barnburner
Any thing, event, or occasion that is especially exciting, impressive, and/or successful. I had so much fun at Jonathan's bachelor party last night; it was a real barnburner! The majority of the game was rather lackluster, but it was a barnburner in the final quarter.
put (something) on the back burner
To establish something as being a low priority; to give something less or little thought or attention; to postpone, suspend, or hold off on doing something. I'm going to be putting work stuff on the back burner for a while once my son is born. I think we should put painting the house on the back burner until we decide on what furniture we want to buy.
put (something) on the front burner
To establish something as a being a high priority; to give something more or a lot of thought or attention; to decide to do something immediately, right away, or sooner than other things. Now that I'm finished with work for the summer, I can put my thesis on the front burner again. We need to put picking out furniture on the front burner before we even discuss painting the house.
back burner
Where low-priority tasks figuratively reside. Typically used in the phrase "put (something) on the back burner." The phrase refers to the back burner of a stove, which is where pots are usually placed to simmer on low heat. I know you're eager to start on this new project, but I'm afraid it's going on the back burner—we just don't have the budget for it right now. You need to go to a doctor! You can't put your health on the back burner any longer!
oil burner
A device that burns oil and gives off heat, such as a furnace or boiler. Turn on the oil burner, will you? It's freezing in here!
be on the back burner
To be a low priority; to get less or little thought or attention; to have been postponed or suspended. Work stuff will be on the back burner for a while once my son is born. I think that painting the house should be on the back burner until we decide on what furniture we want to buy.
*on the back burner
Fig. [of something] on hold or suspended temporarily. (Alludes to putting a pot that needs less active attention on a back burner of a stove, leaving space for pots that need to be stirred. Compare this with on the front burner. *Typically: be ~; put something ~.) The building project is on the back burner for now. This matter was on the back burner for a long time.
*on the front burner
Fig. receiving particular attention or consideration. (Compare this with on the back burner. *Typically: be ~; put something ~.) So, what's on the front burner for us this week? Move this project to the front burner so it will get some attention.
back burner, on a
In a position of low priority. For example,
I haven't forgotten his letter; I've just put it on a back burner for now. This term alludes to a cook's putting items requiring less attention at the back of the stove. [
Colloquial; mid-1900s] Also see
front burner.
cook with gas
Also,
cook on the front burner. Do very well, make rapid progress. For example,
The first half is finished already? Now you're cooking with gas, or
Two promotions in two years-she's really cooking on the front burner! The first of these metaphoric phrases alludes to gas stoves, which began to replace slower wood-burning stoves about 1915. The variant, which alludes to something on a stove's front burner receiving more attention, is heard less often today. [
Slang; 1940s] Also see
back burner.
front burner, on a
Also,
on the front burner. A position of relatively great importance or high priority. For example,
The boss said this project is now on a front burner. This expression alludes to a cook's putting the items requiring the most attention at the front of the stove. [1960s] Also see
back burner.
bra-burner
n. a nickname for a woman who supported the women’s liberation movements of the 1960s and 1970s. (Derogatory.) Didn’t the bra-burners give way to whale-savers in the seventies?
burner
n. a gun; a pistol. (see also burn = to kill.) You got your burner on you?
hay burner
1. n. a worthless racehorse; any old and worn-out horse. I went to a dude ranch, and they gave me an old hay burner to ride.
2. and hay head n. a marijuana smoker. (Drugs.) Some hay head was around trying to sell raffle tickets that looked handmade.
nose-burner
and nose-warmer n. a marijuana cigarette stub; a roach. (Drugs.) Hey, man! Can I have a hit of that little nose-burner? He quickly stubbed out a little nose-burner when he heard the garage door open.
on the back burner
mod. out of the way; aside and out of consideration. (see also
on the shelf.)
We will have to put this on the back burner for a while. worm burner
n. a fast, but low-rolling ball in golf, baseball, etc. Walter sent a worm burner down the third-base line.