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Open sesame
Definitions
- 1 Any successful means of achieving a result, especially means that are magical or technical, or otherwise beyond the understanding of most people.
""The blue topaz was bought by me, from the chieftain of the tribe to which Quacal belongs. It is an ‘open sesame’ to his favor.""
- 2 any very successful means of achieving a result wordnet
- 3 a magical command; used by Ali Baba wordnet
- 1 open up (especially referring to doors)
- 2 Alternative form of open sesame. alt-of, alternative
"The hinges of the hall door were so stiff during Miss Magan’s tenancy, that Dr. Fleming, who as a cousin once ventured to visit the moneyed recluse, had to call at a neighbouring chemist’s for sweet oil ere he felt safe in crying ‘Open Sesame.’"
Etymology
From its use in Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, translating French Sésame, ouvre-toi in Antoine Galland's version of the Ali Baba story in the One Thousand and One Nights, possibly based on an oral Arabic source. Not, as some have purported, a corruption of Open, says me!.
From its use in Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, translating French Sésame, ouvre-toi in Antoine Galland's version of the Ali Baba story in the One Thousand and One Nights, possibly based on an oral Arabic source. Not, as some have purported, a corruption of Open, says me!.
See also for "open sesame"
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Unscramble this word: opensesame