magic bullet

American  

noun

1. something that cures or remedies without causing harmful side effects.

   So far there is no magic bullet for economic woes.

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magic bullet British  

noun

1. informal any therapeutic agent, esp one in the early stages of development, reputed to be very effective in treating a condition, such as a malignant tumour, by specifically targeting the diseased tissue

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Etymology

Origin of magic bullet

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

magic bullet

But neither is a magic bullet, which is why I’m already planning the next refresh.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

They seek to disabuse their leaders of the fantasy that tourism will be a magic bullet that will somehow bring sustainable economic development to the area.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

“There’s no magic bullet to make up for lost time,” said Rob Williams, managing director and head of wealth-management research at Charles Schwab.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 15, 2025

That would be one heck of a magic bullet to do that.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2025

The discovery returned Lawrence to a round-the-clock schedule at the Rad Lab, supervising the bombardment of dozens of elements with his magic bullet.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• panacea
• wonder drug