elementary my dear
Obviously so, friend
Elementary my dear is a phrase expressing that something is obvious or easily deduced, often said when explaining a solution.
Though universally attributed to Sherlock Holmes, the exact phrase never appears in Arthur Conan Doyle's stories—it emerged from stage and film adaptations.
The expression now functions as a gentle way of saying isn't it obvious? or announcing a simple explanation.
- SherlockIconic Victorian-era investigator
- WatsonCommon English surname
- HolmesFictional London investigator
- consulting detectiveFreelance crime-solving expert
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
deduction · obvious · no brainer · simple · basic · clue · crime scene · mystery · sleuth · private eye · pipe · deerstalker hat · magnifying · London · London fog · Victorian · Baker Street · investigation
- Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes, Watson, Baker Street, Moriarty, Mrs. Hudson
- classic excerptsto be or not to be, call me Ishmael, once upon a time, nevermore, et tu Brute
elementary my dearbaffling
Impossible to understand
incomprehensible · impenetrable · inscrutable · unfathomable · mind-boggling
elementary my dearunsolvable
Impossible to resolve
inexplicable · beyond me · beats me · Gordian knot · enigma
elementary my dearmysterious
Beyond easy comprehension
enigmatic · puzzling · cryptic · mystifying · inexplicable
elementary, dear, element, elemental, elements, dearly, dearest, dearness, endear