Idiom
magic bullet
Meaning
A simple remedy for a difficult or complex problem, especially a cure for a disease.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“There is no magic bullet for losing weight quickly.”
“You cannot expect a magic bullet to solve all your relationship problems.”
“Drinking green tea is healthy, but it is not a magic bullet for fitness.”
“Many people hope for a magic bullet to fix the economy, but the reality is much more complicated.”
“The manager warned the team that hiring a new designer is not a magic bullet for their low sales numbers.”
“Educators agree that technology is helpful, but it is not a magic bullet that can replace good teaching.”
“While researchers continue to search for a magic bullet to cure the disease, they must rely on a combination of treatments to manage symptoms.”
Examples
simple
“There is no magic bullet for losing weight quickly.”
“You cannot expect a magic bullet to solve all your relationship problems.”
“Drinking green tea is healthy, but it is not a magic bullet for fitness.”
contextual
“Many people hope for a magic bullet to fix the economy, but the reality is much more complicated.”
“The manager warned the team that hiring a new designer is not a magic bullet for their low sales numbers.”
“Educators agree that technology is helpful, but it is not a magic bullet that can replace good teaching.”
complex
“While researchers continue to search for a magic bullet to cure the disease, they must rely on a combination of treatments to manage symptoms.”
Origin
The term is a calque of the German Zauberkugel, coined by the physician Paul Ehrlich. Ehrlich intended the phrase as an allusion to the opera Der Freischütz, in which a marksman makes a pact with the devil to obtain seven magical bullets that never miss their mark. It is often compared to the silver bullet of werewolf lore.
Key words
Related idioms
- Updated