magic bullet

Calque of German Zauberkugel. Coined by physician Paul Ehrlich as an allusion to the opera Der Freischütz. Compare silver bullet, from werewolf lore.

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magic bullet (plural magic bullets)

1. (idiomatic) A simple remedy for a difficult or complex problem, especially a cure for a disease.

   In recent years, penicillin-based drugs have lost some of their magic bullet status due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

   History shows that there's no magic bullet for a global financial crisis.

• (simple remedy for complex problem or disease): miracle, panacea, silver bullet, wonder drug