silver bullet

Definitions

1. A bullet made of silver, usually with reference to the folkloric belief that such bullets are the only weapons which can kill a werewolf, vampire, or other monster.
   literally
2. Any straightforward solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results.
   figuratively
3. A classic dry martini cocktail.
   colloquial
4. A thermometer, especially one used for rectal temperature readings.
   slang

Equivalents

8 more languages

العربيةرَصَاصَة الْفُضَّة

Suomihopealuotiviisasten kivi

Italianopallottola d'argentopanacea

日本語特効薬銀の弾丸

ქართულივერცხლის ტყვიაპანაცეა

한국어은탄환

Portuguêsbala de prata

Русскийсеребряная пуля

Examples

“There is no silver bullet for this problem. It will take⟳ hard work⟳ and long hours to fix⟳.”

“Colin H. Kahl, the under secretary of defense for policy, acknowledged last⟳ week that “no one capability is a silver bullet,” but said the cluster munitions would allow⟳ Ukraine “to sustain the artillery fight⟳ for the foreseeable future.””

“The Martini is nicknamed “the silver bullet” because of its supposedly lethal properties.”

“For a classic silver bullet martini, you simply need⟳ to choose⟳ your poison—gin or vodka—and add⟳ dry vermouth and olives. For the more complex concoctions, you'll want⟳ to stock⟳ up on flavored vodkas, juices, garnishes, and liqueurs.”

“[…] "the silver bullet"—a rectal thermometer, to ensure that their body core isn't dangerously overheated from the run⟳.”

“Of course, there is the infamous “Silver Bullet,” which is a rectal thermometer that measures the body's core temperature in the event of a heat case. No one wanted to get⟳ it up the butt with the Silver Bullet, […]”

“A Corpsman was yanking my pants down in order⟳ to administer a “silver bullet” (rectal thermometer). I squirmed away and shoved the Corpsman off me before he could insert⟳ it.”

CEFR level