Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A fictional detective: Sherlock Holmes is the brilliant and eccentric consulting detective created by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He is known for his mastery of observation, deduction, and forensic science.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • In the story, Sherlock Holmes solved the case using his remarkable powers of deduction.
  • Many consider Sherlock Holmes to be the greatest detective in fiction.

Advanced Usage

• "a Sherlock Holmes": used informally to describe a person who is exceptionally good at investigating or deducing facts.
  • With his attention to detail, he was a real Sherlock Holmes in figuring out the problem.

Variants and Related Words

• Holmesian (adj): characteristic of or resembling Sherlock Holmes or his methods.
  • The detective's Holmesian approach to the evidence was impressive.

Synonyms

• Consulting detective: a term used within the stories to describe Holmes's profession.
• Master sleuth: a highly skilled detective.

Related Idioms

• "Elementary, my dear Watson": a phrase popularly associated with Sherlock Holmes (though not frequently used in the original stories) to state that a conclusion is simple or obvious.
  • "How did you know I was coming?" he asked. "Elementary, my dear Watson," she replied with a smile.

Noun

1. a fictitious detective in stories by A. Conan Doyle