human dynamo
1
5.9
- noun
- /ˈhjuːmən ˈdaɪnəmoʊ/
:
dínamo humana
- His ability to keep going all day makes him a true human dynamo at work.
Examples
-
I am tempted to call him a human dynamo.
Academic text (1990) -
Not everybody's a human dynamo like you.
-
Stand back, Idaho, and watch this human dynamo in action!
Blog text (6) -
He was a human dynamo, writing books, lecturing all over the world... ...giving expert opinion in trials, working crimes in the city.
-
Everyone who knows her agrees that she's a human dynamo who never seems to tire.
-
Despite her age, she remains an unstoppable human dynamo, always full of energy.
Synonyms
4
4.8
A person who is very active and full of energy
3
4.6
A person who makes other people feel more energetic and motivated
1
5.4
A person who is very energetic and enthusiastic
How Energetic
Surface Forms
Morphology
human + dynamo
If a learner knows 'human' (person) and 'dynamo' (a device or source that generates power / energetic force), the metaphorical composition is straightforward: a human who generates energy = an extremely energetic person. The noun‑noun combination follows a predictable metaphorical mapping rather than an arbitrary idiom, so the meaning is readily derivable from the parts.
Etymology
Human dynamo comes from comparing a person to a dynamo, a machine that makes steady power without stopping. So calling someone a human dynamo gives the image of a person who is 'very energetic' and 'never seems to get tired'.