zinger

[zing-er] /ˈzɪŋ ər/
noun, Informal.
1.
a quick, witty, or pointed remark or retort:
During the debate she made a couple of zingers that deflated the opposition.
2.
a surprise, shock, or piece of electrifying news:
The president's resignation was a real zinger.
3.
a person or thing that has vitality or animation or produces startling results.
Origin
1950-55; zing + -er1
Examples from the web for zinger
  • It's not much of a zinger, but the crowd claps and laughs.
  • But you have to admit, that was a pretty good zinger.
  • He'd ask a reverent question, she'd laser him a suspicious look, waiting for the zinger.
  • Some presenters say they dread asking for queries at the end of a meeting, worried that a zinger is in the wings.
  • But occasionally the screenplay succeeds in slipping in a zinger.
Word Origin and History for zinger
n.

"cruel quip," 1970, from zing + -er (1). Earlier it was baseball slang for "fastball" (by 1957).

Slang definitions & phrases for zinger

zinger

noun
  1. A quip, esp one that is somewhat cruel and aggressive; a funny crack or punch line: Watt's offthe-cuff zingers have been a frequent source of pain for the Reagan Administration/ The plump little actor is polished and funny; his zingers stay zung
  2. A quick and sharp response; a sturdy retort: get right in there with Williams, stand eyeball to eyeball, and plant the zinger on him, bang, or else you would be dismissed (1950+)