It’s not brain surgery

Meaning

The idiom "it’s not brain surgery" is used to express the idea that a task or activity is not particularly difficult or complicated. It suggests that there is nothing remarkable or special about the task at hand, and that it can be done easily with the right tools or knowledge.

Usage

• I know how to change the oil in my car, it’s not brain surgery.
• My daughter learned how to bake a cake in just one class, it’s not brain surgery.
• The company's new software is intuitive and easy to use, even for our employees who aren’t tech-savvy. It’s not brain surgery.
• I've been practicing yoga for a year now, it’s not brain surgery.
• With her years of experience in customer service, Jane can handle any situation that comes her way. It’s not brain surgery.

Roots and History

The idiom "it’s not brain surgery" is believed to have originated in the early 20th century in the United States. During this time, brain surgery was still a relatively new and complex medical procedure that required a high level of skill and expertise. The phrase became popular in the 1930s when it was used in a play called "The Human Condition" by James Ripley. Since then, the idiom has become a common expression in English and is used to describe any task or activity that is considered easy or straightforward.

Synonyms in English

• It’s not rocket science
• It’s not rocket surgery
• It’s not quantum physics
• It’s not neurosurgery
• It’s not cardiothoracic surgery

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "C'est pas de la chirurgie de l'oreille" (It's not ear surgery)
• German: "Es ist nicht eine Operation des Gehirns" (It's not brain surgery)
• Spanish: "No es una cirugía del cerebro" (It's not brain surgery)
• Italian: "Non è un intervento di neurochirurgia" (It's not brain surgery)
• Portuguese: "Não é uma cirurgia do cérebro" (It's not brain surgery)

Similar Idioms

• break a leg

• on the cards

• lose it