humdinger: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “humdinger” mean?
An excellent or remarkable person or thing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An excellent or remarkable person or thing.
Something or someone of an extraordinary nature, often implying impressiveness, excellence, or intensity, such as an outstanding performance, a remarkable story, or a formidable opponent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Originally American, now understood and used in British English but retains a stronger flavour of American colloquialism.
Connotations
In both varieties, it is informal and often humorous. In British English, its use can sound slightly affected or consciously 'American'.
Frequency
Low-to-medium frequency in American English, very low frequency in British English. More common in spoken than written English.
Grammar
How to Use “humdinger” in a Sentence
That was a [humdinger].He told a [humdinger] of a story.She's a [humdinger].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Possibly in informal praise: 'The quarterly results were a real humdinger.'
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used for emphatic, informal description: 'We had a humdinger of a thunderstorm last night.'
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “humdinger”
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “humdinger”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Misspelling as 'humdingger' or 'humminger'.
- Using it as a verb (*'He humdingered the presentation').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily a noun (e.g., 'a real humdinger'). It is not standardly used as an adjective.
Yes, it can describe a remarkable or formidable person, e.g., 'Your new boss sounds like a real humdinger.'
It is still in use, particularly in American English, but it has an old-fashioned, colourful feel. It is not a modern slang term.
Using it in overly formal contexts where it sounds jarring and inappropriate.
An excellent or remarkable person or thing.
Humdinger is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Humdinger: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhʌmˈdɪŋ.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhəmˌdɪŋ.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to be/throw] a humdinger (of a [noun])”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bee (which hums) that is a champion 'dinger' (hits things impressively) – it's a HUMDINGER of an insect!
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCELLENCE IS FORCE/IMPACT (a 'dinger' suggests a hard hit).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'humdinger' be MOST appropriate?