dynamite adj.
1. very strong; intense.
Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Dec. 25/4: There wuz me, drivin’ along under a broilin’ sun, with a dynamite thirst, an’ twelve beautiful bottles in the cart. | ||
New York Day by Day 11 June [synd. col.] My choice for the dynamite drink is the absinthe drip. | ||
Target Area 30: ‘This may be dynamite, baby,’ he said, as he gingerly cut at the string holding one cork. [...] The cork flew off like a bullet. | ||
Long Tunnel 150: We had some dynamite THC last week. | ||
in Sex Work (1988) 67: I’ve got some dynamite speed [...] really good stuff. |
2. excellent, wonderful, first-rate; often as excl. dynamite! wonderful!
Grafter (1922) 1: [of betting, very attractive odds] The shorter-priced horses, which he laid at dynamite odds. | ||
You Can’t Win (2000) 163: I’m dynamite with them old brums in the cribs. | ||
Gangster Girl 62: Big Boy, I’m dynamite. | ||
Big Con 20: His phenomenal success soon became known; the big store was ‘dynamite’. | ||
Corruption City 75: This is dynamite. This is what I’ve been waiting for. | ||
(con. 1958) Been Down So Long (1972) 95: ‘Good shit, ain’t it?’ asked the vampire. ‘Dynamite, baby.’. | ||
Carlito’s Way 9: All the losers went for the spike, and the dynamite high behind it. | ||
Tourist Season (1987) 211: Her eyes were just dynamite. | ||
Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 124: He had [...] a dynamite stereo system. | ||
Guardian Rev. 12 May 7: He was almost a star in 1948. In 1950 he was box-office dynamite. | ||
Guardian Rev. 10 Mar. 2: This stuff is dynamite, Bill – what is it? | ||
Finders Keepers (2016) 159: She’s one dynamite redhead and plenty smart. |
3. very important, extremely effective; used both positively and negatively.
Und. and Prison Sl. | ||
Female Convict (1960) 78: Be careful of O’Gorman – she’s dynamite! | ||
I’ll Say She Does! (1955) 128: I call it goddam urgent. It’s dynamite. | ||
Little Men, Big World 228: This statement will be dynamite, Markland. You take it yourself. No stenographer. | ||
(con. 1944) Rats in New Guinea 18: He’s dynamite with a Bren gun. | ||
Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 182: ‘So where did all the bread for this place come from?’ she asked. ‘Ah ha [...] that’s dynamite that is.’. | ||
No Place of Safety 132: Because Ben and women, together, they’re dynamite. | ||
Turning Angel 359: This is dynamite is what it is. |