sixty-four-dollar question: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (idiomatic, somewhat dated)Informal
Quick answer
What does “sixty-four-dollar question” mean?
A very important, difficult, or fundamental question on which a great deal depends.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A very important, difficult, or fundamental question on which a great deal depends; the ultimate or most crucial question in a particular situation.
A question that is extremely important and difficult to answer, often because the answer would resolve a complex issue or determine the success or failure of an endeavor. The phrase implies that answering it correctly is worth a great deal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The phrase is of American origin and is more commonly recognized in American English. In British English, the conceptually similar "sixty-four thousand dollar question" (from the UK version of the show) is sometimes used, but both are understood.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries connotations of high stakes, finality, and critical importance. It can sound slightly nostalgic or historical.
Frequency
More frequent in American English, though overall usage has declined since the peak popularity of the source quiz show in the 1950s.
Grammar
How to Use “sixty-four-dollar question” in a Sentence
[Subject] + poses/faces/is + the sixty-four-dollar question.The sixty-four-dollar question + is + [complement clause].[Wh-question word]...? That's the sixty-four-dollar question.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sixty-four-dollar question” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The report carefully avoids sixty-four-dollar-questioning the government's core policy.
- He sixty-four-dollar-questioned the entire premise of the debate.
American English
- The interviewer finally sixty-four-dollar-questioned the candidate about the scandal.
- No one wants to sixty-four-dollar-question the boss's decision.
adjective
British English
- They spent the meeting avoiding the sixty-four-dollar-question issue.
- We're now facing a sixty-four-dollar-question dilemma.
American English
- The committee tackled the sixty-four-dollar-question item on the agenda last.
- It's the sixty-four-dollar-question problem for the whole industry.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The sixty-four-dollar question for investors is whether the new CEO can turn the company's profits around.
Academic
In historiography, the sixty-four-dollar question remains: to what extent were economic factors the primary cause of the revolution?
Everyday
We know we want to go on holiday, but the sixty-four-dollar question is: can we actually afford it?
Technical
For the engineering team, the sixty-four-dollar question is whether the prototype can withstand the simulated stress tests.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sixty-four-dollar question”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sixty-four-dollar question”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sixty-four-dollar question”
- Using 'sixty-four-dollar' as a modifier for non-question nouns (e.g., 'a sixty-four-dollar problem').
- Saying 'sixty-four dollars question' (missing the hyphen and singular 'dollar').
- Confusing it with 'the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question' (a later, higher-stakes variant).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It originates from the American radio quiz show 'Take It or Leave It' (1940-1947), where the top prize for answering the final question was $64. The phrase entered the language to mean the most critical and difficult question.
Its usage has declined and it can sound somewhat dated. The variant 'million-dollar question' (from later game shows) is more common in contemporary speech, though both are understood.
It is generally considered too informal and idiomatic for most formal academic or technical writing. Alternatives like 'crucial question', 'key issue', or 'central problem' are more appropriate.
They are synonymous in meaning. 'The sixty-four-dollar question' is the original, historically older phrase. 'The million-dollar question' is a later adaptation reflecting higher prize amounts on TV game shows and is more frequently used in modern contexts.
A very important, difficult, or fundamental question on which a great deal depends.
Sixty-four-dollar question: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪk.sti fɔː ˈdɒl.ə ˈkwes.tʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪk.sti fɔːr ˈdɑː.lɚ ˈkwes.tʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the million-dollar question (more contemporary variant)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an old game show where the final, most valuable question was worth $64. That question decided if you won the top prize, making it the most important one.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS MONETARY VALUE (A critically important question is metaphorically assigned a high cash value).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most likely meaning of 'the sixty-four-dollar question' in this context: 'The board approved the merger, but the sixty-four-dollar question remains: can the two very different company cultures be successfully integrated?'