It was opened by a small barrel of a woman.

这句话的意思是：“它被一个身材橡木桶般的女人打开了。”这属于修辞用法。

▲ 在英语中，有一种特殊的表达方式：“a + 名词+ of + a +名词”。

“a + 名词+ of ”具有修饰作用，往往表示后面名词的某种品质或特征，或者表示具有多大的程度，用来强调语气，该词组的中心词是后面的那个名词。例如：

1.  “an angel of a +名词”：其中an angel of 具有形容词的作用，形容“天使般的”，修饰后面的名词。

He has an angel of a wife who is very particular about food.  他有一个天使般的妻子，但对饮食很挑剔。

What an angel of a beauty she is.  真是一个天使一样的美女啊!

She was an angel of a wife.  她是一个天仙一般的妻子。

2.  “a hell of a +名词”：其中a hell of 相当于程度副词，在用法和意思上颇像quite。

In informal English, some people use “a hell of” to emphasize that something is very good, very bad, or very big.

The manager took a hell of a lot of money out of the club. 主教练从俱乐部拿到了很多钱。

(a hell of a lot of money= quite a lot of money)

Whatever the outcome, it's going to be a hell of a fight. 不管结果如何，这都会是一场艰苦的战斗。(a hell of a fight= quite a fight)

It's taken him a hell of a long time to get here.  他花了很长很长的时间才到这里。

(a hell of a long time = quite a long time)

The firm was in a hell of a mess when he took over. 他接手时公司一团糟。

The car raised a hell of a dust as we drove off.  我们走时车子扬起了一阵尘土。

The news caused a hell of a stir in the village.  那消息在村里引起了一片混乱。

▲以下是类似表达，具有程度副词的作用，说明后面的名词具有多大的程度。

1.  “much of a +名词”：

much of a 表示“在很大程度上”。

She is not much of a journalist.   她并不是一个好记者。

It’s not much of a day for a walk.  今天的天气不适于散步。

His brother is not much of a companion for him.  他兄弟与他情趣不甚相投。

Breaking the law is too much of a risk. 违反法律太危险了。

He was too much of a gentleman to ask them for any money. 他太绅士气了，不好意思向他们要钱。

He was too much of a coward to tell the truth even to his closest friend. 他太胆怯，甚至对最亲密的朋友也不敢说出真相。 　

I find this town too much of a backwater.  我觉得这个城镇太闭塞。

2.  “more of a +名词；less of a +名词”：

这个比较级形式是“much of a +名词”的变式。

This is more of a sitting room than a kitchen.  与其说这是一个厨房，还不如说这是一个起居室。

She was more of a hindrance than a help. 她非但没帮上忙，反而碍事。

Parking is less of a problem with a small car.  对于小汽车来说，停车场地不会有问题。

He is less of a fool than he looks.  他不象看上去那样笨。

3.  “nothing of a +名词”：

nothing of 意为“根本不”。

Mr. Smith is nothing of a musician.  史密斯先生全无音乐家的风味。

She is nothing of a good keeper.  她根本不是个好主妇。

She thinks nothing of a difficulty like that.  这点困难她根本不放在眼里。

She can ride a motorcycle, to say nothing of a bicycle.  她摩托车都会骑，自行车更不在话下了。

4.  “somewhat of a +名词”：

somewhat of 意为“有点儿，有些”。

The cake we made was somewhat of a failure.  我们做的蛋糕不大成功。

It was somewhat of a surprise to us.  我们对此感到有点惊奇。

I found it somewhat of a difficulty.  我觉得这事有些困难。

What happened to them remains somewhat of a mystery.  他们到底出了什么事，到现在仍可以说是个谜。

5.  “kind of a +名词”：

kind of 意为“有点儿，有些”。

Joanie's my best friend, but she can be kind of a pain sometimes.  乔安妮是我最好的朋友，但她有时候可能有点儿招人烦。

What you did is kind of a stupid thing.  你所做的是一件多少有点愚蠢的事。

6.  “sort of a +名词”：

sort of 意为“有点儿，有些”。

It's not a sharp pain; just sort of a dull ache.  这不是剧痛；只是有些隐痛。

The moon was sort of a gray color.  月亮带点灰色。

I won't tell you; it is sort of a secret.  我不告诉你，这事可以说是个秘密。