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The meaning and origin of interesting English phrases

It is not rocket science

Meaning

This phrase means that something is not complicated or difficult to understand or do.

Origin

During the exhilarating and tense years of the mid-20th century's Space Race, the field of 'rocket science' became the ultimate benchmark for intellectual difficulty and complex problem-solving. As nations vied for supremacy in space, the engineers and scientists behind these ambitious projects were seen as dealing with the most profound and intricate challenges imaginable, their work far removed from everyday understanding. This public perception of rocket science as the peak of complexity soon gave birth to the idiom. When a task was genuinely simple, requiring little specialized knowledge or effort, people began to exclaim, 'It is not rocket science,' thereby contrasting its ease with the colossal mental demands of launching vehicles beyond Earth.

Examples

  • Setting up this new computer program is actually quite straightforward; it is not rocket science.
  • Don't worry about assembling the furniture, the instructions are clear, and it's not rocket science.
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