Holy Grail

Definition

Anything that is highly sought-after but attained only through difficult endeavor.

Etymology

From Middle English Holy Grayle. (web page layout): So called because it was traditionally difficult to achieve with the available markup.

Example Sentences

• "Nanotechnology is the holy grail of medicine."
• "Pushing fifty, Alphonse was still afraid to approach women. Still searching for his holy grail, too: a 1965 yellow Mustang hardtop with 289-cubic-inch engine, four-barrel carburetor, and solid-lifter valve train. He belonged to something called the Yellow Mustang Registry. Checked eBay five or six times a day. Phoenician Yellow, his dream car had to be, not the paler Springtime Yellow, also available back in '65."