Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[michaelchang001]

I read this sentence in a magazine:
Why is he not a nuclear rocket surgeon?
I've heard of "rocket science," and "rocket science." But what is a "nuclear rocket surgeon?"
Thanks much. [/b]

[CP]

It was probably written as a joke.

If something is not very hard to do or to understand, you might say, "It's not rocket science," or, "It's not brain surgery." "You don't have to be a rocket scientist / a brain surgeon / a nuclear physicist to know that."

To be funny, you might say, "It's not rocket surgery," or, "You don't have to be a rocket surgeon to know that."
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[michaelchang001]

thanks a lot.
You've been very helpful.