The rock concert was a real barnburner.    From Wordnet, Princeton University. 

Noun : The All Stars game was a real barnburner.    From Dictionary.com. 

Calling the race between Shays and Himes a barnburner is interesting by its definition.    From Wordnik.com.  [A Barnburner Defined | spazeboy] Reference

One definition of barnburner is “someone who burns down a barn” but the other definition is “an impressively successful event.”.    From Wordnik.com.  [A Barnburner Defined | spazeboy] Reference

P.S. Just now on MS.BC, Joe S.arborough described Miller's speech as a "barnburner," presumably intending a compliment.    From Wordnik.com.  [Angry White Man Wigs Out: James Wolcott] Reference

A barnburner is what Roll Call is calling the race between Jim Himes and Chris Shays in Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District.    From Wordnik.com.  [A Barnburner Defined | spazeboy] Reference

The Celtics won in a barnburner 106-102 in Boston.    From Wordnik.com.  [Jesus Saves] Reference

The Giants and Cowboys did put on a barnburner, at least.    From Wordnik.com.  [NFL] Reference

And better than expected -- not a barnburner, but pretty good.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Sep 29, 2004] Reference

In Faulkner Country, a barnburner is driven out of the county.    From Wordnik.com.  [Angry White Man Wigs Out: James Wolcott] Reference

Graham delivered an effective speech, even if he's no barnburner.    From Wordnik.com.  [Live-blogging night 4 of the Republican Convention.] Reference

Suffice to say, Governor Palin's speech is going to be a barnburner.    From Wordnik.com.  [Bob Cesca: Liveblogging The Republican Convention - Day Three] Reference

And then suddenly he's giving this tremendous barnburner of a speech.    From Wordnik.com.  [On to Michigan] Reference

Apparently there were fewer than 40 fans in the crowd for this barnburner.    From Wordnik.com.  [Archive 2008-09-01] Reference

The Globe and Mail’s Jeffrey Simpson + fisheries quotas = barnburner!.    From Wordnik.com.  [Chris Selley] Reference

Last month, the dealership sold about nine, better but hardly a barnburner.    From Wordnik.com.  [Unpopular Models Slow Down GM] Reference

All liberals ever discussed was his inability to give a barnburner of a speech.    From Wordnik.com.  [Why Even Try The Imitation?] Reference

And I've got a feeling - maybe wishful, maybe not - that the Big Dog might bring a barnburner.    From Wordnik.com.  [New York Times: Hillary Speech Partly Driven By Ambition] Reference

But the up-tempo middle of the set is a barnburner, and it's great to hear the flugelhorn wail.    From Wordnik.com.  [Jazz For The Eyes And Ears: Bill Frisell And More] Reference

Of course, the first quarter was scoreless last year and wound up a 32-29 barnburner. — 6: 57 p.m.    From Wordnik.com.  [USATODAY.com - Super Watch: Game day] Reference

The first issue of Bloomberg Businessweek is not a bore, though it's not exactly a barnburner, either.    From Wordnik.com.  [Yvette Kantrow: Economist sans buts] Reference

The one Connecticut contest that does look like a barnburner this cycle is the Shays-Himes race ….    From Wordnik.com.  [A Barnburner Defined | spazeboy] Reference

Also, the sausage race was a barnburner, the Italian sausage just edging out the bratwurst at the tape.    From Wordnik.com.  [Home sweet home: Brewers win, avoid elimination] Reference

But when they can take a money-losing company, streamline it and turn it into a barnburner success -- that is great.    From Wordnik.com.  [Transcript: Myhrvold of Intellectual Ventures] Reference

So whether you thought the speech was a flop or a barnburner, you've got to at least give Obama credit for the attempt.    From Wordnik.com.  [Chris Weigant: Friday Talking Points [80] -- Parsing Obama's Cairo Speech] Reference

The good news was it was a lead-flopping barnburner and a Tiger Beat-style launchpad for Michigan's freshman QB Tate Forcier.    From Wordnik.com.  [Tennis Faults and Football Debuts] Reference

I hope you all were glued to your TVs to watch our men's squad upset our Canadian friends in a 5-3 barnburner at Hockey Canada Place.    From Wordnik.com.  [On the blueline: One game to go, vs. Canada, gold at stake] Reference

Symphonic Variations, it's not exactly a barnburner.    From Wordnik.com.  [Blog updates] Reference

"I expect a barnburner," New Albany coach Jim Shannon concurred.    From Wordnik.com.  [Evening News and Tribune Homepage] Reference

Emilio after a barnburner of a first year, cooled down a bit, but had his moments.    From Wordnik.com.  [Soccer Blogs - latest posts] Reference

West gave a barnburner of a speech last year that got over 2 million hits on YouTube.    From Wordnik.com.  [Hyscience] Reference

BOSTON | A rout turned into a barnburner, but in the end, it was just a win for the Magic.    From Wordnik.com.  [Kansas City Star: Front Page] Reference

"Super Car" is a rocket-fire barnburner that pairs a succinct metal riff with post-punk bruising.    From Wordnik.com.  [Portland Mercury] Reference