Phrase guide

what the doctor ordered

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌʍɒt ðə ˈdɒktə ˌɔːdəd/
  • General-American: /ˌʍɑt ðə ˈdɑktɚ ˌɔɹdɚd/
  • General-American: [ˌwɑt-]
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Exactly what is necessary or useful in a given situation; something very beneficial or desirable.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

A reference to a doctor prescribing treatment to alleviate a patient’s illness, or a course of action (exercise, a healthy diet, relaxation, etc.) that will be beneficial to the patient’s health.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: anar com l'anell al dit — exactly what is necessary or useful in a given situation
  • Finnish: juuri sitä — exactly what is necessary or useful in a given situation
  • Finnish: mitä lääkäri määrää — exactly what is necessary or useful in a given situation
  • Russian: то, что до́ктор прописа́л (to, što dóktor propisál) — exactly what is necessary or useful in a given situation
  • Spanish: venir de perlas — exactly what is necessary or useful in a given situation
  • Spanish: venir que ni pintado — exactly what is necessary or useful in a given situation
  • Spanish: venir al pelo — exactly what is necessary or useful in a given situation
  • Spanish: como anillo al dedo — exactly what is necessary or useful in a given situation
  • Spanish: como agua de mayo — exactly what is necessary or useful in a given situation
  • Spanish: mano de santo — exactly what is necessary or useful in a given situation
  • Ukrainian: те, що лі́кар прописа́в (te, ščo líkar propysáv) — exactly what is necessary or useful in a given situation