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Glite Dictionary
no-brainer

no-brainer

45 3.4
An easy decision that needs little thought
  • noun
  • /noʊˈbreɪnər/
  • Informal
translation icon : decisión fácil
  • Deciding it might be best to accept Rog's invitation was a no-brainer.
  • seems like a no-brainer

Now, this really should just be a no brainer, OK?

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Examples

  • Figure out a way to make your deal a no-brainer, and you will get funding.

    Blog text (1)

  • Okay, this one might seem like a no-brainer, but I swear to God it's the most effective.

    Blog text (9)

  • Now, this really should just be a no brainer, OK?

    Stephan Speaks

  • Just a real quick, easy, no brainer product that you can put on without really thinking about it.

  • And so for me, it was a no brainer to do right.

    Ryan Pineda

  • And that was, as they say, a no-brainer in Congress.

    Academic text (1994)

  • This is a no-brainer, I'm telling you.

    The Elder Son (2006)

  • At $16 a month, switching to MFP was a no-brainer for me.

    Blog text (9)

  • The case for early intervention and preventive services for older people ought to be a no-brainer.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Declining an extended warranty is virtually a no-brainer when buying most electronic items.

Synonyms

low-hanging fruit
vsno-brainer
  • Informal
8 3.4

Easy tasks that give quick results

is about being an obvious choice to make rather than a simple task
plain sailing
vsno-brainer
  • UK
1 2.8

Easy to do and without problems after it starts

is about being an obvious decision to make rather than ease after starting
walkthrough
vsno-brainer
  • US
3.0

A competition or test that is very easy to pass

is about being an obvious choice to make rather than easy to finish

Antonyms

complex problem
11 4.9

A problem with many connected parts that is hard to solve

How Easy

piece of cake
  • Informal
51 1.0
no-brainer
  • Informal
45 3.4

Surface Forms

no-brainer singular
no-brainers plural

Morphology

no-brainer = no + brainer (semi-transparent) = no + brain + er

The expression is motivated by the idea of having 'no brain' or requiring very little thought, but the idiomatic meaning is somewhat lexicalized.

Etymology

No-brainer comes from the idea no + brain, meaning 'no thinking needed', and started as a casual, funny phrase in the 1900s. So a no-brainer is an obvious choice that needs very little thought.