open sesame

== English == === Alternative forms === open, Sesame; open, sesame; open Sesame === Etymology === From its use in Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, translating French Sésame, ouvre-toi in Antoine Galland's version of the Ali Baba story in the One Thousand and One Nights, possibly based on an oral Arabic source. Not, as some have purported, a corruption of Open, says me!. === Pronunciation === === Phrase === open sesame open up (especially referring to doors) ==== Translations ==== === Noun === open sesame (plural open sesames) Any successful means of achieving a result, especially means that are magical or technical, or otherwise beyond the understanding of most people. ==== Translations ====