silver bullet

silver bullet

Something that provides an immediate and extremely effective solution to a given problem or difficulty, especially one that is normally very complex or hard to resolve. The phrase is almost always used in a statement that such a solution does not exist. There's no silver bullet that will solve the homelessness crisis in this country. The way to make progress is through deliberate, logical discussions around the issue.
See also: bullet, silver
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

silver bullet

and magic bullet
n. a specific, fail-safe solution to a problem. (From the notion that a bullet made of silver is required to shoot a werewolf.) I’m not suggesting that the committee has provided us with a silver bullet, only that their advice was timely and useful. I don’t know the answer. I don’t have a magic bullet!
See also: bullet, silver
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

silver bullet

A highly accurate projectile of death or destruction. Sir Walter Scott may have been the first to use the idea of a literal silver bullet in Lockhart (1808), “I have only hopes that he will be shot with a silver bullet.” The term caught on in the first half of the 1900s because the popular western hero of the radio program, The Lone Ranger, used a silver bullet. During the Korean War an antiaircraft shell that hit precisely on target was called “silver bullet.” By the late 1900s the term also was being used figuratively, as in, “We’re hoping our new software will be the silver bullet to put the company on the map.”
See also: bullet, silver
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • price one has to pay
  • the price (one) has to pay
  • be able to (do something) in (one's) sleep
  • be able to do something in your sleep
  • do (something) blindfolded
  • do blindfolded
  • half the trouble of (something)
  • could (do something) with one hand tied behind (one's) back
  • able to do (something) with (one's) eyes closed
  • able to do with eyes closed
References in periodicals archive
A promotional YouTube video for the oil shows a picture of bin Laden and the claim: 'Killed with a weapon using Silver Bullet Gun Oil'.
Gun oil firm claims Osama was shot dead by 'counter-Islamic' pork-coated bullet
Silver Bullet managing director John Dias said: "We''re delighted that Kerry is joining us at such an exciting time for the agency as we see the market for our services not only recovering but actually improving with a number of new account wins in recent months.
Hitting the ground running in new job
Star performance Go Silver Bullet, who battled gamely to take the feature race Quote of the day "It's a disgrace"- Harvey Smith after Teenando, who is owned by his wife Sue, picked up just pounds 1,626 for winning the 3m2f handicap chase Results and analysis start page 103
Silver Bullet matched at 999 as he hits target; CARLISLE
When I heard that from Lee, I told him, "Lee, that is your silver bullet." In other words, "Lee, you are the silver bullet!"
You are the silver bullet
But is using one assessment, the so-called silver bullet the best way to improve quality of hire?
FurstPerson, VoltDelta
But for hope to become helpful practice, those with diabetes are compelled to pay attention to the core elements of the silver bullet.
Diabetes care: where is the greatest hope?
This refers to the statement by Mr McChrystal that there are no silver bullets for an Afghan win.
Silver spoon better
IronKey Silver Bullet Service enables enterprise security administrators to remotely manage IronKey secure flash drives over the Internet.
Flash drive security service
Ian Crossley appears to have missed the point, which is that any energy "silver bullet" has to be self-sustaining or based on a renewable energy source that produces more energy than is required for its production (Letters, PE 13 August).
Search for the silver bullet
The 'Silver Bullet' promotion featured a specially-designed hologram produced by CFC Applied Holographics on retail multi-packs, with a co-ordinated label on bottles for consumption in bars and restaurants.
Biggest holo-packaging order
However, our impatient and instant-gratification culture has continued to push for something quicker, something easier, to address alcoholism and addictions, some silver bullet to reduce the effort and cost involved in "fixing" alcoholics and addicts.
Medication is not a 'silver bullet': medications can help people move toward recovery, but they should not replace traditional addiction treatments
Whether it's how to prevent the next senseless mass murder like the recent Virginia Tech tragedy--the subject of this month's cover story--or fighting terrorism (let's fight them over there so they won't come here), or making peace in the Middle East (if only the United States would make a serious effort to get Israel and Palestinians to the table again), or solving cancer (with designer genes), or, of course, losing weight--we want the silver bullet.
Werewolves and silver bullets
Taking up their case, Baroness Thornton said: "The conclusions that Ofcom came to are inadequate given the scale and urgency of this problem." But she conceded it was not the "silver bullet" to solve the rising problem of child obesity.
Fresh bid to ban TV junk food ads
The savings resulting from eliminating the use of "silver bullet" recycling containers at the transfer station is estimated to be $20,900.
Maine town chooses mandatory recycling
The surrender of the Silver Bullet Saloon's lease was handled by Moe Gold of KGW Associates.
Newmark brings new eatery to Port Authority space