simple

Related to simple: simple sentence

in simple English

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

plain and simple

Essentially or fundamentally so, without exaggeration or elaboration. If you are caught cheating on an exam or assignment, you will fail the entire class, plain and simple. No matter how much they claim it will help the average worker, this is a tax break for the wealthy, plain and simple.
See also: and, plain, simple

pure and simple

Essentially or fundamentally so, without exaggeration or elaboration. If you are caught cheating on an exam or assignment, you will fail the entire class, pure and simple. No matter how much they claim it will help the average worker, this is a tax break for the wealthy, pure and simple.
See also: and, pure, simple

simple English

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

have a bad case of the simples

Rur. to be stupid. That boy has a bad case of the simples. He can't understand anything. She acts smart enough on the playground, but get her in the classroom and she has a bad case of the simples.
See also: bad, case, have, of, simple

pure and simple

 and plain and simple
absolutely; without further complication or elaboration. I told you what you must do, and you must do it, pure and simple. Will you kindly explain to me what it is, pure and simple, that I am expected to do? Just tell me plain and simple, do you intend to go or don't you?
See also: and, pure, simple
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

pure and simple

No more and no less, plainly so, as in This so-called educational video is really a game, pure and simple. This expression is very nearly redundant, since pure and simple here mean "plain" and "unadorned." Oscar Wilde played on it in The Importance of Being Earnest (1895): "The truth is rarely pure and never simple." [Second half of 1800s]
See also: and, pure, simple
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

pure and simple

and nothing else.
1991 Alabama Game & Fish They are bred for waterfowling, pure and simple.
See also: and, pure, simple
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌpure and ˈsimple

and nothing else: This man is a bully, pure and simple. ▶ ˌpurely and ˈsimply adv.: I am basing my opinion purely and simply on the facts of the case.
See also: and, pure, simple
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

pure and simple

mod. basically; essentially. Bart is a crook, pure and simple.
See also: and, pure, simple
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

pure and simple

Plainly so, without amplification or dilution. This pairing is almost but not quite redundant; it dates from the nineteenth century. Oscar Wilde played on it in The Importance of Being Earnest (1895): “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
See also: and, pure, simple

simple Simon

A foolish, gullible person; a simpleton. This expression comes from the well-known nursery rhyme “Simple Simon met a pieman going to the fair,” in turn a rhymed version of a tale from an eighteenth-century chapbook. By 1785 Grose’s dictionary defined the term as “a natural, a silly fellow.” James Joyce used it in Ulysses (1922): “I looked so simple in the cradle they christened me simple Simon.” However, it is probably obsolescent.
See also: Simon, simple
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • in simple English
  • simple English
  • be in plain English
  • be in plain language
  • in plain English
  • in plain language
  • say (something) in plain English
  • say (something) in plain language
  • put (something) into plain English
  • put (something) into plain language
References in periodicals archive
Octogenarian grower says he lives a healthy life due to his simple diet
In the simple but beautiful world that the simpletons of the PTI inhabit, words can be banned, deeds can banned, virtues can be banned, vices can be banned, hopes can be banned, aspirations can be banned and perhaps even bad thoughts can be banned.
Richard defers the maximum $15,500 of his salary to his SIMPLE IRA.
Simple nephrectomies are being performed in a large percentage, indicating the advanced stage of benign diseases at the time of presentation.
Despite the disparate applications of simple rules (e.g., from Tina Fey to flocking birds), simple rules have four common characteristics.
The Train Simple brand will be retired at the end of 2016.
They can't be digested until broken down into simple sugars, which are then absorbed in the intestines.
But the authors emphasize that one limitation of using the Simple Rules is the inconclusive result in a proportion of cases, and thus the absence of an estimated risk of malignancy in these cases.
The Simple Antibody platform is arGEN-X' principal proprietary technology for producing novel antibody leads and has a particular strength in addressing complex disease targets that are difficult to access using established antibody technology platforms.
Not for this age group, though: and that's where A Simple Idea to Empower Kids makes all the difference.
Simple, based in Portland, Oregon, was founded in 2009 and its commercial launch took place in July 2012.
Local Weight Watchers Leader, Sarah Jackson says: "I'm so proud of my members' success, following new Simple Start.
Launched to critical acclaim in 2012 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Simple.TV bridges the gap between streaming video and broadcast TV, giving connected consumers the shows they love anywhere they are, anytime.
recently launched two new store brand grocery lines: Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic.
GLASGOW'S Simple Minds will visit Venue Cymru in Llandudno next year after the release of their second greatest hits album.