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Glite Dictionary
caveman's approach

caveman's approach

8.6
An old, rough way of doing something that ignores modern methods
  • noun
  • Informal
translation icon : enfoque primitivo
  • Using a caveman's approach to problem-solving rarely leads to effective solutions.

Examples

  • The team quickly rejected her caveman's approach to marketing in favor of new strategies.

  • His caveman's approach to negotiation frustrated his colleagues.

  • Using a caveman's approach to solve modern problems is ineffective.

  • The teacher criticized the student's caveman's approach to the project.

  • His caveman's approach to negotiation showed a lack of understanding about modern tactics.

  • The consultant warned that a caveman's approach to marketing would not yield successful results.

  • Employing a caveman's approach to problem-solving often overlooks more innovative solutions.

Antonyms

advanced technology
  • Specialized
20 3.7

Modern machines and systems that use the newest science and engineering

Surface Forms

caveman's approach singular
cavemen's approaches plural

Morphology

caveman's + approach

The meaning 'a primitive or unsophisticated method' is directly and predictably derived from combining 'caveman' (evoking prehistoric, primitive behavior) with 'approach' (method or strategy). This compositional metaphor (X's approach = the approach characteristic of X) is cross-linguistically common and would be accessible to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Caveman's approach shows a caveman using a club and very simple tools to smash a problem instead of thinking carefully. That's why it means a way of doing things that is 'primitive' or 'unsophisticated' rather than clever or modern.