in plain English

in plain English

In clear, straightforward, and uncomplicated English. Chronic atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries has stopped oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, leading to a myocardial infarction. In plain English, you've suffered a heart attack. I wish these software agreements would be written in plain English, rather than this legalese gobbledygook.
See also: English, plain
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

in plain English

In clear, straightforward language, as in The doctor's diagnosis was too technical; please tell us what he meant in plain English. [c. 1500] Also see in so many words.
See also: English, plain
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

in plain ˈEnglish

simply and clearly expressed, without using technical language: I don’t understand these documents at all. Why can’t they write them in plain English?
See also: English, plain
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be in plain English
  • be in plain language
  • in plain language
  • say (something) in plain English
  • say (something) in plain language
  • simple
  • simple English
  • in simple English
  • put (something) into plain English
  • put (something) into plain language
References in periodicals archive
(16.) THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD STYLE MANUAL: A GUIDE FOR LEGAL WRITING IN PLAIN ENGLISH (2000), available at http://www.nlrb.gov/stylemanual.html.
Plain English on trial
Telecom, for example, announced in 1992 that its new telephone directory was written in plain English to make it more easily accessible to users.
The pioneering work in plain English writing for the public in New Zealand occurred in 1985 through the initiative of the Public Trust Office, an organisation whose services include the preparation of wills.
How New Zealand Consumers Respond to Plain English
SBA is now rewriting all of its Standard Operating Procedures in plain English. SBA estimates that the number of procedures will be reduced from 155 to 85 and the number of pages will shrink from 25,000 to 8,000.
US government and plain language
"Every word is theirs, but I had to turn them into books - getting their voices over and speaking in plain English. That's very difficult with people like Ken Dodd and Margi Clark.
PLAIN SAILING FOR PETER; ECHO writer awarded Plain English trophy
Any planning on taking the GED, or adults wishing to brush up on their English skills, will find the fourth edition of GRAMMAR IN PLAIN ENGLISH provides over twenty important lessons to reinforce grammar.
Grammar in Plain English
In plain English, adopting the constitution will mean handing over all powers from Westminster to Europe, creating a huge democratic deficit for the people of this country, which will ultimately destroy the peace and freedom we have enjoyed for so long.
Letter: Europe - Claptrap
The body was set up in 1979 by author Martin Cutts to encourage bureau- crats and lawyers to write in plain English.
Votes cast on unwieldy wording
Liverpool council's executive member for ethical governance Cllr Paula Keaveney said she was rolling out a "five-point plain English plan" whichwould see the council "do away with acronyms, jargon, council-speak and gobbledegook", ensure all council documents are written in plain English before they are released, and strive to achieve the Plain English Campaign's Crystal Mark for Clarity.
CITY: WE'RE GOING TO DO BETTER, GOING FORWARD! Pledge on plain English
The Plain English Campaign fights for public information to be written in plain English and has more than 7,500 supporters in 80 countries.
Putting it plainly, award-winning Dudley Zoo's just bostin'