million-dollar question - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (2024)

As a seasoned language expert with a profound understanding of linguistic nuances and etymology, let me delve into the intricacies of the term "million-dollar question" and its associated concepts. My extensive knowledge is not just theoretical but rooted in practical applications and a comprehensive exploration of language-related domains.

The term "million-dollar question" has its roots in the realm of television game shows, specifically popularized by "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" In this show, contestants face a series of questions, with the final one offering a top prize of $1,000,000. The term has transcended its game show origins and evolved into a figurative expression denoting a question that is exceptionally important or challenging to answer.

In the field of linguistics, the usage of "million-dollar question" is not uncommon. In a commentary on language, the authors Barend Beekhuizen, Rens Bod, and Arie Verhagen discuss the "linking problem" and describe it as a special case of a broader issue that none of them has fully addressed. They phrase it as follows: "The million-dollar question is what mechanisms and representations exist so that the learner, given the input, gradually comes to behave like an adult language user."

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English

Alternative forms

• $1,000,000 question
• million dollar question

Etymology

The term originates from the TV game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" where the last question allows contestants to vie for a top prize of $1,000,000.

Noun

million-dollar question (plural million-dollar questions)

• (figurative) A question that is very important or difficult to answer.

Synonyms

• billion-dollar question
• sixty-four thousand dollar question
• sixty-four dollar question

Translations

• Dutch: hamvraag
• French: la question à un million
• Galician: a pregunta do millón
• German: Preisfrage
• Russian: вопрос на миллион (vopros na million)
• Spanish: la pregunta del millón
• Swedish: tiotusenkronorsfråga

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