holy grail
Most elusive goal
The holy grail is any highly sought prize or ultimate goal that seems nearly impossible to attain: A cure for cancer remains the holy grail of medical research.
The phrase borrows from the medieval legend of a sacred cup associated with Christ, though it now appears almost exclusively in this secular, figurative sense.
Finding a rent-controlled apartment in Manhattan is the holy grail for young professionals. (Capitalized Holy Grail is the legendary relic.)
Hard to find
- sought-afterMuch wanted by many
- pinnacleUtmost summit or spire
- epitomePerfect representative of type
- dreamSleeping mind's narrative
aspiration · breakthrough · prize · treasure · unattainable · coveted · game-changer · silver bullet
elusive
Hard to find
- sought-afterMuch wanted by many
- pinnacleUtmost summit or spire
- epitomePerfect representative of type
dream · aspiration · breakthrough · prize · treasure · unattainable · coveted · game-changer · silver bullet · brass ring
- mythologyZeus, Apollo, Athena, Poseidon, Odin
- Biblical ReferencesAdam and Eve, ark, forbidden fruit, Garden of Eden, Ten Commandments
- mythsmyth, legend, fable, fairy tale, folk tale
- immortalityimmortality, eternal life, immortals, everlasting life, deathlessness
- medieval knightsknight, knights, armor, sword, swords
- mystical questmagic sword, enchanted forest, dragon slaying, treasure hunt, prophecy
holy grailcurse
Invoked harm through words
anathema · bane · pariah · booby prize · nightmare
holy graillow-hanging fruit
Readily attainable objectives
easy win · bare minimum · small potatoes · child's play · no-brainer
holy grailpoisoned chalice
Apparent prize, actual curse
fool's gold · trinket · dross · refuse · abomination
holy, unholy, holiness, holy day, grail, holistic, holiest, holier, holy orders