cure-all

/'kjuər'ɔ:l/

Thân thiện

The street performer held up a small glass bottle, claiming it was a miraculous cure-all for every ailment.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A hypothetical remedy for all illnesses or problems; a panacea: A "cure-all" is a substance or solution believed to be able to cure any disease or solve any difficulty. Historically, the concept was often pursued by alchemists.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The salesman claimed his herbal tonic was a cure-all for everything from fatigue to arthritis.
  • There is no single cure-all for the complex economic issues facing the country.
  • In many folk tales, a magical spring is described as a cure-all.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "cure-all" as a metaphor: The term is frequently used metaphorically to criticize an oversimplified solution proposed for a complex set of problems.
  • The new policy is being promoted as a cure-all, but experts warn it addresses only one symptom of a larger crisis.

Variants and Related Words

• Panacea (n): A direct synonym, often used in more formal or literary contexts.
  • Technology is not a panacea for all educational challenges.
• Elixir (n): A magical or medicinal potion, historically sought by alchemists as a cure-all and for prolonging life.
• Universal remedy: A descriptive phrase with the same meaning.

Synonyms

• Panacea
• Universal cure
• Miracle drug (though this often implies a real, specific medicine)
• Sovereign remedy

Antonyms

• Placebo (a substance with no therapeutic effect)
• Palliative (something that relieves symptoms but does not cure)

Idioms and Common Phrases

• "There is no cure-all": A common phrase used to emphasize that simple, universal solutions do not exist for complex problems.
  • We need a multi-faceted approach; there is no cure-all for social inequality.

Học thuật

Noun

1. hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists

Từ đồng nghĩa

• panacea
• nostrum
• catholicon