flamethrower

What it means

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. slangball gamesSomeone who is extremely good at throwing or shooting balls.

   "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."

   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 27 Jan 2018

   2 more examples

   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, 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 04 Jul 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.

   2021 June 15, Jesse Campigotto, “Baseball has a sticky situation on its hands”, in CBC News, archived from the original on 04 Jul 2023

In a sentence

"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."

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 27 Jan 2018

Where it comes from

1. GermanFlammenwerfer
2. Englishflamethrower

From flame + thrower, calque of German Flammenwerfer.