smoking gun

Definition

Evidence, particularly of a crime, that is difficult or impossible to dispute.

Etymology

Often traced back to the Sherlock Holmes story The Adventure of the Gloria Scott.

Example Sentences

• "We have a theory, but we haven't found a smoking gun yet."
• "When Prophet's place in Decatur, Georgia was raided in July 1989, there was the E911 Document, a smoking gun. And there was Prophet in the hands of the Secret Service, doing his best to "explain.""
• "I now turn to the role and results of our current inspections. Evidently if we had found any ‘smoking gun’ we would have reported it to the Council."