open sesame

See synonyms for open sesame on Thesaurus.com

noun

any marvelously effective means for bringing about a desired result: Wealth is the open sesame to happiness.

Origin of open sesame

First recorded in 1785–95; from the use of these words by Ali Baba to open the door of the robbers' den

Words Nearby open sesame

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use open sesame in a sentence

Of course, she would find out who he was, and then—yes, he would find the open sesame for every door.
The Everlasting Arms | Joseph Hocking
Not only are the delights of this country mine for the asking, but my name is an open sesame in every land.
The Everlasting Arms | Joseph Hocking
Who would possess a lingam which was an open sesame to devildom and not make use thereof?
Devil-Worship in France | Arthur Edward Waite
There is no “open sesame” to the treasures of learning; they must be acquired by hard study.
English: Composition and Literature | W. F. (William Franklin) Webster
It appears to be a kind of picklock, an open sesame, Tanner—Tawno!
Lavengro | George Borrow

British Dictionary definitions for open sesame

open sesame

noun

a very successful means of achieving a result

Origin of open sesame

from the magical words used by Ali Baba in The Arabian Nights' Entertainments to open the door of the robbers' den

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse