flamethrower

• flame thrower
• flame-thrower

From flame +‎ thrower, calque of German Flammenwerfer.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈfleɪmˌθɹəʊ.ə/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈfleɪmˌθɹoʊ.ɚ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

flamethrower (plural flamethrowers)

1. A device that projects a flame for starting fires, and sometimes also additional fuel to help ignition. Used either as a weapon or a tool.
2. (basketball, baseball, slang) Someone who is extremely good at throwing or shooting balls.
   • 2017 April 11, “Mike Conley Rewards Grizzlies’ Faith With a Career Season”, in The New York Times‎, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2018-01-27:

     "We allowed him to kind of orchestrate the whole offense, and he got comfortable early," George said. "He's a flamethrower. Once he gets hot, it's over."

   • 2021 June 15, Eric Nehm, quoting Khris Middleton, “How Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton manipulated the Nets' defense in Game 4”, in The Athletic‎, archived from the original on 4 July 2023:

     So when we see guys like that open, we gotta give them the ball. Especially Bryn [Forbes], he's a flamethrower. The guy is one of the best shooters I've been around, so to have him going in the game, it's much needed for us. We need him to get going. We need him to hit shots.

   • 2021 June 15, Jesse Campigotto, “Baseball has a sticky situation on its hands”, in CBC News‎, archived from the original on 4 July 2023:

     Unlike steroids, these supposedly illegal substances were not used in secret. There was an understanding that it was in everyone's best interest — pitchers and hitters alike — for today's flamethrowers to have a good grip on the ball.