operative

Related to operative: Operative temperature

the operative word

The word in a statement that is most important in understanding its intended or true meaning. The police released a statement saying they have not yet filed any charges. The operative word being "yet."
See also: operative, word
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the ˌoperative ˈword

used to emphasize that a particular word or phrase is the most important one in a sentence: I was in love with her — ‘was’ being the operative word.
See also: operative, word
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • the operative word
  • and that's a fact
  • that's why
  • take (something) with a grain of salt
  • "I see," said the blind man
  • take (something) with a pinch of salt
  • take something with a pinch of salt
  • take with a pinch of salt
  • words to that effect
  • denial
References in periodicals archive
He noted that a committee has been established to monitor the activities of the Task Force, saying that where there are infractions, the operatives would be sanctioned.
Mobile Courts On Street Trading Commence Operation
Concurrently, Operative is launching a "User Council" for media companies including NBCUniversal in order to advance the Premium at Scale initiative.
An Automated Way For TV To Capture Digital Dollars
Post operative nutritional care plays a crucial role in wound healing specially in pediatric population1.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF NUTRITIONAL INTAKE AND OPTIMUM NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN RAWALPINDI
The research has shown that according to the perception of the members of co- operatives leadership is necessary for a successful running a co-operative and co-operative development.
AGRICULTURAL CO-OPERATIVES: RESEARCHING MEMBERS' PERCEPTION OF IMPORTANT ISSUES OF CO-OPERATIVES ON THE EXAMPLE OF SERBIA
A "cost minimization analysis" was done using cost to society, which included inpatient stay, lost wages, and time to recovery, in addition to the operative costs.
Hysterectomy cost: operative time has big role
Jawbreaker (the title comes from the name of Berntsen's team of Agency operatives) makes clear that from the outset U.S.
Slouching toward Tora Bora: what would it really have taken to catch bin Laden?
The first study to examine how many pulls are safe during operative vaginal delivery compared outcomes after successful operative vaginal delivery, failed operative vaginal delivery followed by C-section, or labor and C-section alone in 399 term singleton pregnancies with complete dilatation after 3 hours in the second stage of labor.
Limit operative vaginal delivery to three attempts: forceps or vacuum, not both
If employers after the war were more readily embracing the "humanizing" supply-side practices of welfare/efficiency linkages, it was primarily because they were regurgitating attitudes presented by government, academics and various official enquiries--stimulated by the dramatic decline in war and post-war building productivity levels--rather than responding directly to operative demands.
Did manual workers want industrial welfare? Canteens, latrines and masculinity on British building sites 1918-1970
Despite the inherent difficulties in using a minor operative, such sting operations have met with success.
Minor drinkers/major consequences: enforcement strategies for underage alcoholic beverage law violators
One practical and effective way of improving this document is to incorporate template operative note, prepared by consensus of surgeons and customized to include pertinent details of the very procedure.
Template operative note, a better documentation
A questionnaire was filled on the spot that included questions about formal teaching and operative notes, either they should be hand written or typed, how operative notes were learned, knowledge about any guideline, counselling about syntax to be avoided in writing, record of swab and instrument count, opinion about possible implications and need of standard national guidelines.
Operative notes: a simple yet effective teaching resource for training
A multi-disciplinary team is established, including the vice president for operative services, the nursing and medical directors of the operating rooms, the director of information systems, the chairs of anesthesia and surgery, a vice president of finance, and the chief medical officer.
Making smart mistakes
Results of three studies in recent years show that risks increase significantly with attempted operative vaginal delivery if the mother has been pushing in labor for longer than 3 hours or if the physician pulls more than three times on the fetus with forceps or a vacuum extractor, Dr.
Three pulls, three hours of pushing the limit in operative vaginal delivery: expert opinion
But instead of taking this tip and reporting the hell out of it--calling everyone who might have been in on the conference call and tracking as many GOP operatives on or near military bases as he could find--Tapper just drops it in for a half page at the end of a chapter and writes that the lack of subpoena power prevents him from tracking it any further.
DOWN & DIRTY: The Plot to Steal the Presidency
In this role, Flowers will also chair the Co-operative Bank plc and The Co- operative Insurance.
UK's Co-operative Bank names chair of Co-operative Financial