sixty-four-dollar question

or $64 ques·tion

[ siks-tee-fawr-dol-er kwes-chuhn, -fohr- ]

noun

1. the critical or basic question or problem:

   Whether the measure will get through Congress this session or not is the sixty-four-dollar question.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sixty-four-dollar question¹

From the fact that 64 dollars was the largest prize on a popular radio quiz show in the 1940s

Example Sentences

As a consequence, interplanetary diplomatic relations were somewhat strained—until a nimble-witted young man from Mars came up with the answer to the "sixty-four dollar" question.

From Project Gutenberg

"And now, the sixty-four dollar question," Dave Dawson got out in a bitter, puzzled voice.

From Project Gutenberg

That was the sixty-four dollar question, and it hung in the shimmering air between Harry and myself like an unspoken challenge.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• complexity
• conundrum
• dilemma
• enigma
• mystery
• puzzle
• quandary
• teaser