linchpin

linch·pin, lynchpin /ˈlɪntʃˌpɪn/ noun

the linchpin of something MAINthe person or thing in a group, system etc that is most important, because everything depends on them 〔团体、制度等的〕关键人物[事物]

Examples from the Corpus

the linchpin of something• The modesty of the Arab woman is the linchpin of the whole political system.• My mother had always been the linchpin of our family.• Erme was the linchpin of the whole thing.• Apparently she accepted that she was the primary caretaker of her children and the linchpin of family life.

Examples from the Corpus

linchpin• Divas are often the financial linchpins for opera productions costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.• Dalton Baldwin's linchpin accompaniments are all that one could hope for in terms of grace and humour.• Apparently she accepted that she was the primary caretaker of her children and the linchpin of family life.• Removing the middle would be like removing the linchpin.• Erme was the linchpin of the whole thing.• Consumer goods industries were the linchpin, and these were overwhelmingly located in the West Midlands and in and around Greater London.

From Longman Business Dictionary

linchpinlinch·pin /ˈlɪntʃˌpɪn/ (also lynchpin) noun [singular]

the most important thing or person in a system, plan etc, which everything else depends on

The consumer is the linchpin of the economy.

Origin linchpin

(1300-1400) linch “pin fastening a wheel to an axle” ((11-16 centuries)) (from Old English lynis) + pin

linch·pin noun

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus