open sesame
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A magical command; used by Ali Baba: A phrase that magically opens a locked door or entrance, originating from the story "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" in One Thousand and One Nights.
- Any very successful means of achieving a result: A metaphor for a seemingly magical key, password, or method that effortlessly grants access to something desired, unlocks opportunities, or solves a difficult problem.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- In the tale, Ali Baba used the words "open sesame" to enter the thieves' secret cave.
- A prestigious university degree is often seen as an open sesame to high-paying careers.
- Knowing the right person can sometimes be the open sesame to getting a job in that industry.
Advanced Usage
- Used as a metaphor: The term is almost exclusively used figuratively in modern English to describe a powerful enabler.
- For the startup, that venture capital investment was the open sesame to rapid growth and market access.
Variants and Related Words
- Magic word (n): A word or phrase believed to have special power to cause something to happen. (Less specific than "open sesame").
- Passkey (n): A key that opens several locks; a master key. (A literal, non-magical equivalent).
- Golden ticket (n): A modern metaphorical synonym, from , meaning a highly coveted pass to opportunity.
Synonyms
- Key: Something that provides a means of achieving or understanding something.
- Password: A secret word or phrase that grants access.
- Panacea: A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases. (While similar in function as a universal solution, "panacea" is less about and more about ).
Related Idioms
- Magic bullet: A quick and effortless solution to a difficult problem. (This shares the connotation of an effortless solution but lacks the specific imagery of or ).
- In like Flynn: To gain access easily and successfully. (This idiom refers to successful entry but lacks the magical or metaphorical depth of "open sesame").
Noun
- a magical command; used by Ali Baba
- any very successful means of achieving a result