Expressions with the word KEY

Hey guys. I think today's word is one of the most interesting sources for expressions I've had so far. That is because the word key holds many figurative meanings and can be part of many interesting expressions. The word key alone can already have different usages. One of them is of course its literal meaning, which is a small metal instrument specially cut to fit into a lock and move its bolt; but if you hear someone saying something like "I have the key to success", you'll know the key here means secret, not the object. The same way something of key importance is something very important. Notice that key can work as both noun and adjective.

The word key is very often associated to something misterious, or something that holds a secret inside. Take our next expression as an example: you're an investigative journalist now, and you've been trying to learn a little bit more about a crime that happened in your city. One day, after so much time of investigation, you finally stumble upon something that may hold the key. But wait, what does that mean? To hold the key? Well, maybe you've found a new track that may lead you to the chief suspect for the crime. That track holds the key because it provides the explanation for something that you could not previously understand.

Maybe the track was a record or any kind of document that was under lock and key. Hold on again, under lock and key? that's actually one more example of an expression with the word key. When something is under lock and key, it is locked and kept in a room or a container in a very safe way. So then you get the document that's been under lock and key and there is finally something that can lead you to the real perpetrador of the crime. If everything goes well, you'll be able to make him go to prison to be kept under lock and key. That is correct: to be under lock and key is an expression used for both things and people. The difference is that when it's used with people, it means the person is in prison, he is under lock and key. When it is used with something, it simply means it is locked in a container.

Changing a little bit the course of this post, let us know some more vocabulary. For example, a church key is actually not an expression, but it refers to that device you use to remove bottle tops and pierce a hole in can lids. If you like to drink beer, you probably always keep one of those near. But the same way, if you're a housewife who's always opening cans of tomato juice and the like, you need a church key just as much. I don't know why it has the word church in it, but it made me remember of another expression.

If you've ever been in a church choir, you must have realized there is always someone singing off-key. No matter how well the rest of the choir sings, the one who's singing off-key will always make it sound off pitch. When you sing off-key, you sing out of tune, off pitch, you can't sing accordingly to the harmony and tune of the song. If you're just like that and can't sing in harmony, you can also say you sing out of key. Out of key and off-key are the same thing. But there is more to it: If you're not getting along with someone, you can also say you're out of key with the person. You're out of harmony with him just like you'd be with a song.

And finally the last expression: a golden key can open any door. To understand that one, suppose you applied to work for a very important company. You get ready for the interview, arrive on time, feel like the interview went incredibly well and go home full of hope you'll get the call. But things don't go exactly the way you expected. You find out someone else, whose resume is quite worse than yours, is selected to work for them. You can't believe you've lost for someone so less prepared than you and try to find out what was the real reason. That's when someone tells you: the person that was selected comes from a wealthy family, and a golden key can open any door. When you say something like that, you actually mean to say sufficient money can accomplish anything. In that case, the fact he had much more influence than you made him be chosen over you. It is sad but it is true. Well guys, sorry for such long post, but I couldn't make it differentely. I hope this helps. Take care!