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💣 US atomic bomb project 🚀 Big urgent project
Manhattan Project

Manhattan Project

2 5.6
A large, fast project carefully planned to solve a big technical or social problem
  • proper noun
  • /mænˈhætən ˈprɒdʒɛkt/
translation icon : Proyecto Manhattan
  • Creating a Manhattan Project for affordable housing could resolve the housing crisis in major cities.

Examples

  • But I can run the Manhattan Project.

    Oppenheimer (2023)

  • Thomas Massie would have a Manhattan Project, OK.

  • We need to create a Manhattan Project for retaking the House with the best thinkers, biggest groups, and most influential donors in the party involved.

    Blog text (24)

  • We need a "Manhattan Project" for next-generation power technology: batteries, distribution, small-scale generation technologies, and many other innovations I could possibly foresee are needed all over the world.

    Blog text (26)

  • We need a Manhattan Project to develop clean energy solutions quickly.

  • The government announced a Manhattan Project to combat climate change across the nation.

Synonyms

project
vsManhattan Project
∞ 2.5

A planned piece of work to reach a goal

is a high priority tightly coordinated rapid effort to solve major problems
program
vsManhattan Project
  • US
∞ 2.5

A planned set of services and projects to achieve a goal

is a single focused high priority operation rather than multiple coordinated efforts
big project
vsManhattan Project
14 2.1

A large, important task that takes a lot of time and effort

is similar in scale but seeks fast results under tight coordination
moonshot
vsManhattan Project
1 7.4

A very ambitious and risky project that may fail

is ambitious but focuses on rapid organised effort aiming for achievable success
megaproject
vsManhattan Project
1 5.2

A very large, complex plan to build things like a dam or rail line that needs much money and time

is large too but is short term and rapidly organised for urgent problems

How Ambitious

Manhattan Project
2 5.6
program
  • US
∞ 2.5
initiative
458 3.5
project
∞ 2.5
task
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Manhattan Project main

Morphology

Manhattan + project

The intended meaning (a large-scale, high-priority, tightly coordinated initiative) cannot be derived from 'Manhattan' (a place) + 'project' (planned work); a B1 learner who knows the words would most likely assume it refers to a project located in Manhattan. The idiomatic/metaphorical use comes from a specific historical reference (the WWII atomic program) and requires cultural or prior exposure, so the expression is not transparently compositional.

Etymology

Manhattan Project is now used as a short way to describe any very large, urgent, and well organized effort. Because the original project was a high priority program that gathered top people and money to solve a huge problem fast, people call similar national or company projects a 'Manhattan Project' to show their size and speed.