open sesame
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“When an aggressive group like this gets an open sesame to many desirable systems, they are going to use it widely.”
From Washington Post • Dec. 13, 2020
“It was one of those magical permissions that are like an open sesame for the whole film,” he said.
From New York Times • Mar. 18, 2012
With a flurry of publicity�and an open sesame to the family vaults�Rockefeller enters the race.
From Time Magazine Archive
Oil has become the open sesame of power.
From Time Magazine Archive
He didn’t consciously consider the new posses-sions the open sesame to Mother Dear’s vault of acceptance.
From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
