silver bullet en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Meanings
- (literally) 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.
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(figuratively) Any straightforward solution perceived to have great effectiveness or to bring miraculous results.
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.”
2023 July 14, Eric Schmitt, quoting Colin H. Kahl, “U.S. Cluster Munitions Arrive in Ukraine, but Impact on Battlefield Remains Unclear”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:There is no silver bullet for this problem. It will take hard work and long hours to fix.
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(colloquial) A classic dry martini cocktail.
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.
2007, Sally Ann Berk, Martini Book: 201 Ways to Mix the Perfect American Cocktail, Hachette, →ISBN:The Martini is nicknamed “the silver bullet” because of its supposedly lethal properties.
[2003, Lowell Edmunds, Martini, Straight Up: The Classic American Cocktail, JHU Press, →ISBN, page 64:
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(slang) A thermometer, especially one used for rectal temperature readings.
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, […]
2006, Cpl. Matthew D. Wojtecki, Every Other Four, page 140: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.
2017, Jason Delgado, Chris Martin, Bounty Hunter 4/3: From the Bronx to Marine Scout Sniper, page 109:[…] "the silver bullet"—a rectal thermometer, to ensure that their body core isn't dangerously overheated from the run.
1998, Thomas E. Ricks, Making the Corps, page 166:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| silver bullets | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Hypernyms
Synonyms
Translations (40)
es remedio infalible (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · es la purga de Benito (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · pl panaceum (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · es fórmula mágica (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · fr solution miracle (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · el ασημένια σφαίρα (bullet made of silver) · ja 特効薬 (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · sh srebrno tane (bullet made of silver) · es remedio milagroso (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · hu varázsszer (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · de Königsweg (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · el μαγική συνταγή (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · it panacea (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · ru серебряная пуля (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · es solución milagrosa (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · ko 은탄환 (bullet made of silver) · cmn 高招 (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · es bala de plata (bullet made of silver) · de Patentrezept (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · es santo remedio (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · de Silberkugel (bullet made of silver) · sh srebrni metak (bullet made of silver) · pt bala de prata (bullet made of silver) · es varita mágica (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · fr panacée (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · ka ვერცხლის ტყვია (bullet made of silver) · hu csodaszer (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · es panacea (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · fi hopealuoti (bullet made of silver) · cmn 良方 (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · es bala argéntea (bullet made of silver) · ka პანაცეა (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · si ර්ර්දි පතොරම (bullet made of silver) · ar رَصَاصَة الْفُضَّة (bullet made of silver) · ca solució miraculosa (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · es mano de santo (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results) · ja 銀の弾丸 (bullet made of silver) · it pallottola d'argento (bullet made of silver) · fr balle d'argent (bullet made of silver) · pt bala de prata (solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results)