IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchPas besoin de sortir de Saint-Cyr
Meaning: It doesn't take a genius to work that out.
Literally: No need to have graduated from Saint-Cyr
Example: “Pas besoin de sortir de Saint-Cyr pour comprendre que ce plan ne marchera pas.” — It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that this plan won't work.
English equivalent: It doesn't take a rocket scientist
Other ways to say this
- French: Ne pas être grand clerc Literally: Not to be a great clerk
English: it doesn't take a rocket scientist
Origin: Saint-Cyr is the French military academy, the equivalent of naming West Point or Sandhurst. Polytechnique is the usual alternative, and the choice signals which kind of cleverness is being dismissed.
More French idioms
- Prendre le taureau par les cornes To tackle a difficulty head-on instead of avoiding it.
- Les vaches maigres A period of hardship and scarcity — the opposite of les vaches grasses.
- Les vaches grasses A period of plenty.
- Aller comme un tablier à une vache To suit someone appallingly badly.
- Adorer le veau d'or To make money one's god.
- Une tunique de Nessus A gift that destroys the person who accepts it.
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