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Glite Dictionary
key to combating

key to combating

1 3.9
An important thing or action that helps deal with a problem
  • idiom
: clave para combatir
  • Access to mental health resources is the key to combating the effects of stress.

Examples

  • Education is the key to combating misinformation in today's society.

  • Has the key to combating the

    Blog text (2)

  • Collaboration between communities is the key to combating poverty effectively.

Synonyms

the key to
vskey to combating
351 2.8

The main thing that makes something succeed or work

focuses on what helps successfully deal with a specific problem or challenge
solution to
vskey to combating
262 2.7

An answer that fixes a problem or difficulty

emphasizes the crucial factor or method needed to handle a problem successfully

How Effective

key to combating
1 3.9
strategy
∞ 3.7
measure
  • Formal
647 3.8

Surface Forms

key to combating singular
keys to combating plural

Morphology

key + to + combat

The phrase 'key to combating' is compositionally transparent: 'key' conveys something essential, 'to' marks the target, and 'combating' (from 'combat') means fighting or addressing a problem, so a learner who knows those words can infer 'an essential factor for fighting or dealing with X'. This noun + to + gerund pattern is common across languages and follows standard English composition, making the meaning readily derivable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

The phrase key to combating comes from the simple image of a real key that opens a lock so you can reach and fight a problem. That's why it means 'an essential way to deal with a problem'.