rocket science
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
English
[edit]Pronunciation
[edit]Audio (General Australian): (file)
Noun
[edit]- (literal) The science or study of rockets and their design.
- Coordinate terms: astrodynamics, astronautics
- (idiomatic, hyperbolic, chiefly in the negative) Anything overly complex, detailed, or confusing.
- Synonyms: brain surgery, rocket surgery
- It's not rocket science. Just screw in the bulb and flip the switch.
- It's not rocket science. You just need to screw this to that!
- 2007 January 19, Thomas Friedman, "A Warning From the Garden", in The New York Times[1], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, -ISSN, -OCLC:
- 2024 May 29, Philip Haigh, "The digital revolution and the switch to in-cab signalling", in RAIL, number 1010, page 29:
- Akers claims that ETCS signalling renewals are roughly 50% of the cost of conventional renewals. If nothing else, this is an important reason for NR to be keen to switch. "There's no rocket science or magic in that, there's just physically less to deliver," he says. "There are no trackside signals. Yes, you have balises and marker boards, and you still have train detection, but by and large there is simply less to deliver.
Usage notes
[edit]- This idiomatic phrase is usually used in a negative comparison, as in the example above, to show that something is (or should be) simple, straightforward, or obvious.
Derived terms
[edit]Translations
[edit]idiomatic: anything overly complex
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