whiz-bang

whiz-bang
\\ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷\ adjective

a whiz-bang technician

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n. /hwiz"bang', wiz"-/; adj. /hwiz"bang", wiz"-/, n.
1. Mil. a small, high-speed shell whose sound as it flies through the air arrives almost at the same instant as its explosion.
2. a firecracker with a similar effect.
3. Informal. whiz1 (def. 5).
adj.
4. Informal. first-rate; topnotch: a whiz-bang navigator.
Also, whizbang, whizz-bang.
[1910-15; orig. imit.]

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whiz-bang or whizz-bang «HWIHZ BANG», noun, adjective.
–n.
1. a shell fired in a flat trajectory at high velocity from a rifled piece of artillery of relatively small caliber, so that the sound of its explosion is heard almost simultaneously with the whizzing sound of its passage through the air.
2. a firework that makes a short, whizzing or buzzing sound and then explodes, intended to imitate the characteristic sound of such a shell.
3. Informal. anything strikingly noisy or noticeable.
–adj.
Informal. strikingly good; first-rate: »

Brown is a whiz-bang campaigner with a wide personal following (Time).

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1.
(also whizz-bang) informal n. (esp. during World War I) a low-velocity shell
■ a resounding success

Dan was a whiz-bang at mechanical things

2.
adj. lively or sensational; fast-paced

a whiz-bang publicity campaign


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • whiz-bang — whiz′ bang′ or whiz′bang′ or whizz′ bang′ adj. first rate; topnotch: a whiz bang slam dunk[/ex] • Etymology: 1910–15; orig. imit …   From formal English to slang

  • whiz-bang — or whizz bang [hwizbaŋ′, wizbaŋ′] n. 1. [Old Slang] a high explosive shell of great speed whose sound of explosion occurs immediately after its sound of flight; also, a fireworks device suggestive of this ☆ 2. Slang WHIZ (n. 2) adj. ☆ Slang… …   English World dictionary

  • whiz-bang — n. /hwiz bang , wiz /; adj. /hwiz bang , wiz /, n. 1. Mil. a small, high speed shell whose sound as it flies through the air arrives almost at the same instant as its explosion. 2. a firecracker with a similar effect. 3. Informal. whiz1 (def. 5) …   Universalium

  • whiz-bang — /ˈwɪz bæŋ/ (say wiz bang) noun 1. World War I a shell fired from a small calibre, high velocity German gun. 2. a firework making such a sound. 3. the sound itself. –verb (i) 4. to make such a sound. –adjective 5. Colloquial first rate, especially …  

  • whiz-bang — (also whizz bang) informal noun 1》 (especially during the First World War) a low velocity shell. 2》 chiefly N. Amer. a resounding success. adjective chiefly N. Amer. impressively lively and fast paced …   English new terms dictionary

  • whiz-bang — adjective see whizbang …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Whiz Comics — was a monthly ongoing comic book anthology series, which was published by Fawcett Comics from February 1940 to June 1952, best known for introducing Captain Marvel. The first issue published of Whiz Comics was issue #2. As explained in the 2007… …   Wikipedia

  • Whiz Comics — Cover von US Whiz Comics #2 (1940) mit Captain Marvel Whiz Comics ist der Titel einer Comicserie die zwischen Februar 1940 und Juni 1952 von dem US amerikanischen Verlag Fawcett Comics veröffentlicht wurde. Veröffentlichungsdaten Die Serie… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • whiz — n. & v. (also whizz) colloq. n. 1 the sound made by the friction of a body moving through the air at great speed. 2 (also wiz) colloq. a person who is remarkable or skilful in some respect (is a whiz at chess). v.intr. (whizzed, whizzing) move… …   Useful english dictionary

  • whiz kid —  not whizz , is generally the preferred spelling, though most dictionaries recognize both. The same applies for whiz bang, but with the addition of a hyphen …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

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