Meaning of silver bullet | Babel Free

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

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