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keys to the kingdom. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
keys to the kingdom, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
keys to the kingdom in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Originating from the concept of resources that were the means of obtaining control over an actual kingdom, i.e., a realm under the rulership of a king. Compare also King James Bible Matthew 16:19, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven."
Pronunciation
Noun
keys to the kingdom pl (plural only)
- (idiomatic) A resource, usually information or knowledge, the possession of which gives the possessor access to power.
1830, John Donald Carrick, Life of Sir William Wallace of Elderslie, page 112:This fortress, from its strong position, was considered as one of the keys to the kingdom, and had belonged to the Earl of March, a disappointed candidate for the crown, who had now attached himself to the banner of England.
2002 April 8, InfoWorld, volume 24, number 14, page 28:The passwords they control are the keys to the kingdom, so what protections should be taken?
- 2008, Barack Obama (quoting Senator Robert Byrd), The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, page 119:
- Not many people bother to learn them these days. Everything is so rushed, so many demands on a senator's time. But these rules unlock the power of the Senate. They're the keys to the kingdom.