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Synonyms

Holmes, Sherlock

Cultural  

  1. A fictional English detective, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes's extraordinary powers of memory, observation, and deduction enable him to solve mysteries and identify criminals in cases that leave all other detectives baffled. His companion is Dr. Watson, who records his exploits. Holmes is often mistakenly quoted as saying, “Elementary, my dear Watson.”

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Figuratively, any shrewd detective can be called Sherlock Holmes, or simply Sherlock.

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.

Holmes, Sherlock and the Consulting Detective Unbound Productions offers an enhanced staged reading of this mash-up of three Arthur Conan Doyle mysteries.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2016

Ryan Murphy's "American Horror Story," the team behind HBO film "Game Change" about Sarah Palin's 2008 vice presidential bid, and Britain's modern twist on detective Sherlock Holmes "Sherlock" were among the five making the cut.

From Reuters • Jan. 3, 2013

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.