be not rocket science

To not be a pursuit, activity, or endeavor that requires extraordinary skill or intelligence. Look, all you need to do is reformat the hard drive on your computer. It isn't rocket science! Sure, it took a little bit of time to figure out, but reinstalling the modem wasn't rocket science or anything. Just follow the directions as they're written—it isn't rocket science.

See also: not, rocket, science

blow a snot rocket

To expel mucus from just one nostril by blocking the other one. Ew, that's so gross—quit blowing snot rockets! Of course the boys think it's hilarious to blow snot rockets at each other. If you have two little boys with colds, one of them will inevitably blow a snot rocket.

give (one) a rocket

To scold one for a wrongdoing. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Mom will give us a rocket if she finds out that we broke her antique vase. A: "John sure gave me a rocket when he found out I was responsible for the printing error." B: "Yeah, we could hear him yelling all the way over here." Oh man, Dad is going to give me a rocket when he sees that I messed up his new car.

go like a rocket

To work well or successfully, as of a machine. Primarily heard in Australia. We finally have dry clothes again, thanks to our new dryer going like a rocket. That old TV doesn't exactly go like a rocket anymore. You might have to smack it a few times if the picture goes out. That model of blender really goes like a rocket. It can whip up a smoothie in no time at all!

it doesn't take a rocket scientist (to do something)

One doesn't have to be particularly intelligent to be able to do or understand something. I doesn't take a rocket scientist to learn how to change the oil in your car. How has he not learned how to check his email yet? It doesn't take a rocket scientist. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that you have to unplug electrical equipment before you try to fix it!

pocket rocket

1. vulgar slang A penis, especially when erect and inside one's pants (as if it were in one's pocket). I didn't want to stand up and make it obvious that I was sporting a pocket rocket.

2. slang A miniature electric or gas-powered motorcycle, as might be ridden by a child. David's dad bought him a pocket rocket for his birthday—the thing looks like real deal!

3. slang A compact vibrator specifically used for clitoral stimulation. I was mortified when my pocket rocket fell out of purse halfway through the date.

put a rocket under (someone or something)

To motivate or give someone an incentive to do something faster, better, or with greater energy or enthusiasm. Primarily heard in UK. It's been over a week now and we still haven't gotten our delivery! I think it's time you called customer support and put a rocket under them. Here's hoping the new manager will put a rocket under his squad, because they've been looking like amateurs the past few games.

rice rocket

offensive slang A typically light and fast car or motorcycle manufactured in an East Asian country, especially Japan. Often used derogatorily, the term is typically considered racist for its use of rice as a stereotypical representative of such countries (where it is a staple food). A: "Check out the rice rocket with the huge spoiler." B: "A rice rocket? That's a bit politically incorrect, don't you think?" My old Mustang can go toe to toe with the fastest rice rockets out there.

rise like a rocket (and fall like a stick)

To experience a meteoric rise in success (and then have one's fortunes reversed just as suddenly and dramatically). The phrase can be used to describe someone or something who has only experienced a period of success so far, not necessarily one followed by a downturn. Everyone has their eyes on the young actress who has been rising like a rocket in the film industry. The company rose like a rocket by trading sub-prime mortgages, and then fell like a stick when the housing bubble burst.

rocket into (something or some place)

1. To move or travel into some place incredibly quickly, as if being propelled by rockets. The puck rocketed into the net from the middle of the rink. Chunks of metal and glass rocketed into the air as the bomb exploded.

2. To cause someone or something to travel into some place incredibly quickly, as if being propelled by rockets. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "rocket" and "into." The out-of-control car hit a pedestrian, rocketing the poor woman into the air. The player kicked the ball and rocketed it into the back of the net.

3. To move into some position or status with remarkable speed. With three goals in quick succession, the underdog team suddenly rocketed into the lead. The singer rocketed into the limelight this year with the huge success of his debut album.

4. To move someone or something into some position or status with remarkable speed. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "rocket" and "into." The incredible sales of the company's newest product has rocketed them into a position of market dominance. The huge growth of her wealth over the past year rocketed her into the top ten list of the most wealthy individuals.

rocket science

A pursuit, activity, or endeavor that requires extraordinary skill or intelligence. Most often used in the negative to imply the opposite. Look, all you need to do is reformat the hard drive on your computer. It isn't rocket science! I thought it would be simple enough to fix the car's engine on my own, but this turned out to be like rocket science to me!

rocket to (something or some place)

1. To move into some position or status with remarkable speed. With three goals in quick succession, the underdog team suddenly rocketed to the lead. The singer rocketed to the limelight this year with the huge success of his debut album.

2. To move someone or something into some position or status with remarkable speed. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "rocket" and "into." The incredible sales of the company's newest product has rocketed them to a position of market dominance. The huge growth of her wealth over the past year rocketed her to the top ten list of the most wealthy individuals.

rocket up

To make very rapid progress in some area. They're such a popular band that their new single is just rocketing up the charts.

you don't have to be a rocket scientist (to do something)

You don't have to be particularly intelligent to be able to do or understand something. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to learn how to change the oil in your car. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that you have to unplug electrical equipment before you try to fix it.

rocket (in)to something

1. Lit. [for a projectile] to ascend into the sky or into space; [for something] to shoot rapidly into something. The space shuttle rocketed into space. The locomotive rocketed into the darkness.

2. Fig. [for someone] to ascend rapidly into something, such as fame or prominence. Jill rocketed into prominence after her spectacular performance on the guitar. She will undoubtedly rocket to success.

rocket something into something

to send something somewhere-usually into space-by rocket. The government rocketed the satellite into space. Someone suggested rocketing our waste into space.

not rocket science

If you say that something isn't rocket science, you mean that it is easy or obvious. It isn't rocket science to figure out that you will sell more sweets if you put them where small children will see them. People should be able to fill in the forms themselves — this isn't rocket science. Note: You can use expressions such as it doesn't take or you don't have to be a rocket scientist to point out that something is very easy or obvious. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why he's so angry. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to work it out. Note: The expression rocket scientist, meaning `very clever person', is used in various other structures. Now I'm no rocket scientist, but even I could see those figures looked way too high.

See also: not, rocket, science

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

not rocket science

used to indicate that something is not very difficult to understand. humorous

See also: not, rocket, science

rise like a rocket (and fall like a stick)

rise suddenly and dramatically (and subsequently fall in a similar manner).

The origin of this phrase is a jibe made by Thomas Paine about Edmund Burke's oratory in a 1792 House of Commons debate on the subject of the French Revolution. Paine remarked: ‘As he rose like a rocket, he fell like the stick’.

give somebody a ˈrocket

(British English, informal) criticize somebody very strongly for doing something wrong: His boss gave him a rocket for losing the contract.

it’s not ˈrocket science

used in order to emphasize that something is not complicated or difficult to do or understand: Oh, I’m sure I’ll manage. It’s not exactly rocket science, is it?

See also: not, rocket, science

you don’t have to be a ˈrocket scientist (to do something)

it doesn’t take a ˈrocket scientist (to do something)

used to emphasize that something is easy to understand: Of course this model sells more than the others — it’s the cheapest! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work that one out.

blow snot rockets

and blow a snot rocket

tv. to blow gobs of nasal mucus from one nostril at a time by blocking off the other nostril with a thumb. Bob is always blowing snot rockets! How crude! He tried to blow a snot rocket at the dog, but it kept right on barking.

blow a snot rocket

verb

See blow snot rockets

pocket-rocket

n. the penis. (Usually objectionable.) He held his hands over his pocket-rocket and ran for the bedroom.

rice-rocket

n. a Japanese motorcycle; a crotch-rocket from Japan. He added a crack-rack to his rice-rocket.

rocket scientist, you don't have to be a

This problem or idea is not that difficult to understand. This hyperbolic colloquialism dates from the mid-twentieth century, as does its synonym, you don’t have to be a brain surgeon. Clearly they imply that these professions require unusual intellectual acumen. Reporting on an economic forum, the Boston Globe quoted former President Bill Clinton, “You want to save 4 million lives? Give them the medicine. It’s not rocket science” (Jan. 28, 2005). Also, “And then he got murdered. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure there’s a lot more to it than I thought” (David Baldacci, Hour Gam, 2004). See also no-brainer.