Meaning of open sesame | Babel Free

Definitions

open up (especially referring to doors)

Equivalents

Examples

“The hinges of the hall door were so stiff during Miss⟳ Magan’s tenancy, that Dr. Fleming, who as a cousin once ventured to visit⟳ the moneyed recluse, had to call⟳ at a neighbouring chemist’s for sweet oil ere he felt safe in crying ‘Open⟳ Sesame.’”

“Thus, one by one, the gates have⟳ been thrown open⟳. God’s providence is manifest. “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.” The fable of Aladdin before the cave, crying “Open⟳ Sesame!” has been realized; and by this circumstance a tremendous emphasis is put⟳ upon the great commission of the Master, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.””

“To Don Ramón González the heavy oak door opened of its own⟳ accord, and without crying “Open⟳ Sesame!””

“Knaves and thieves do not lightly enter⟳ the workshop, merely by crying “Open⟳ Sesame!””

““You’ve lost your sense⟳ of direction—forgotten your geography! The Pyrenees lie⟳ south.” / “And I suppose⟳ you expect⟳ me to stand⟳ there in front of them crying ‘Open⟳ Sesame! Stand⟳ aside, crags and valleys! Here I come⟳!’ ””

“The shrewd performer crying ‘Open⟳ Sesame’ as he rubs his magic lamp before the Aladdin’s cave of show⟳ business should be careful to take⟳ out an insurance policy in the event of the non-appearance of the Genie.”

“We teach⟳ that parliament is sovereign, as in a democracy it should be. But we know⟳ that judges too make⟳ law. As Lord Reid observed, we must accept⟳ that fact for better or worse, for we no longer pretend⟳ that the common law is hidden in some Aladdin’s cave waiting only for the judge⟳ to discover⟳ it by crying ‘Open⟳ Sesame’.”

“Satisfied that I was alone, I drifted over to the door and tapped it with my fingernail three times… two times… three times. “Open⟳ Sesame,” I murmured, as Rouffe worked his magic and the colours absorbed me.”

“‘Open⟳ Sesame,’ I murmured again, my hand still resting against the rock-wall. And slowly, right before my very eyes, my hand began disappearing into the wall.”

“He puffed out the muscles of his bare chest and touched me below with the scimitar, crying, “Open⟳ Sesame!””

CEFR level