cure all

USAGE SUMMARY

'cure all' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to something or someone that is capable of resolving a wide range of issues or problems. For example, "Many people believe that money is a cure all for any problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"Cannabis oil is NOT a cure all.

Huffington Post

But like most ailments, a proper meal can cure all.

Huffington Post

"We can't cure all social ills".

The New York Times

Money may not cure all ills, but it certainly helps.

The Guardian

Even the healthy pomegranate cannot cure all of Afghanistan's ills.

The Economist

So will Wizarding World cure all those post-Potter depressives?

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Condition or cure-all?

The Guardian - Film

Grass, the cure-all.

The New York Times - Sports

It's not the cure-all".

The New York Times - Sports

It's not a cure-all".

The New York Times

Is common sense really a cure-all?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase without a hyphen when it functions as a verb phrase meaning to heal everything (e.g., "This medicine cannot cure all ailments").

Common error

Avoid using "cure all" in technical scientific papers unless you are explicitly discussing a broad-spectrum treatment or debunking a myth. In precise medical contexts, it is better to specify the range of efficacy rather than using this idiomatic and often skeptical term.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cure all" functions primarily as a compound noun (often hyphenated as cure-all) representing a panacea, or as a verb-object construction. According to Ludwig, it is frequently employed to denote a universal remedy that is often viewed with skepticism.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cure all" is a highly effective phrase for discussing broad solutions in a variety of fields. Ludwig AI indicates that it is most frequently used in News & Media to temper enthusiasm for oversimplified answers to complex issues. Whether you use the noun form "cure-all" to describe a panacea or the verb form to discuss healing, it remains a powerful tool for setting realistic expectations in professional and academic writing. Remember that in high-level English, it is most often used in negative constructions to signal that a proposed solution is not a "magic bullet" for every problem.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

panacea

Uses a more formal, academic term derived from Greek for a universal remedy

magic bullet

Focuses on the idea of a simple, highly effective solution to a complex problem

silver bullet

Implies a miraculous or effortless way to solve a difficult situation

universal remedy

Offers a more literal and slightly more formal descriptive phrasing

miracle cure

Focuses on the extraordinary or scientifically unlikely success of the solution

heal-all

An older, more folk-oriented synonym for a medicinal or general remedy

quick fix

Carries a more negative or skeptical connotation, suggesting the solution is shallow

one-size-fits-all solution

Emphasizes the broad application of the fix across different scenarios

sovereign remedy

A very formal or archaic way to describe an exceptionally effective solution

magic wand

Metaphorical expression suggesting the problem can be solved as if by magic

FAQs

How do I use "cure all" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a supposed solution to many problems, such as: "The new tax law is helpful, but it is certainly not a <a href="/s/panacea" target="_blank" rel="alternative">panacea or a "cure all" for the economy."

What is the difference between "cure all" and "panacea"?

While both mean a universal remedy, "<a href="/s/panacea" target="_blank" rel="alternative">panacea" is more formal and academic, whereas "cure all" is more common in everyday speech and news media.

Should I hyphenate "cure all"?

Yes, when used as a noun, the most common form in high-quality sources like The New York Times is the hyphenated "<a href="/s/cure-all" target="_blank" rel="alternative">cure-all".

What can I say instead of "cure all" for a fast solution?

If you want to imply the solution might be temporary or superficial, you can use "<a href="/s/quick+fix" target="_blank" rel="alternative">quick fix" or "<a href="/s/magic+bullet" target="_blank" rel="alternative">magic bullet".