--- optiview_delivery: edge_optimized content_type: semantic_markdown source_url: https://learnings.org/term/brain-surgery brand_content: none publication_version: "3.0" published_at: 2026-10-05T14:06:11Z composition_version: composition-v2.1.0 presentation_version: presentation-v1.2.0 --- # Brain surgery [Skip to content](https://learnings.org/term/brain-surgery#main-content) - [All](https://learnings.org/terms) - [2](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=2) - [3](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=3) - [8](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=8) - [A](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=A) - [B](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=B) - [C](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=C) - [D](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=D) - [E](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=E) - [F](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=F) - [G](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=G) - [H](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=H) - [I](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=I) - [J](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=J) - [K](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=K) - [L](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=L) - [M](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=M) - [N](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=N) - [O](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=O) - [P](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=P) - [Q](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=Q) - [R](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=R) - [S](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=S) - [T](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=T) - [U](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=U) - [V](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=V) - [W](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=W) - [Y](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=Y) - [Z](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=Z) A phrase used to dismiss complex tasks as simple, usually by people who have never performed brain surgery and underestimate both the task and actual brain surgery. ### Examples Examples: - "This isn't brain surgery, just follow the instructions." (it's actually quite complex) - "Come on, it's not brain surgery!" (it might be harder than you think) - "We need someone who can handle this - it's not brain surgery." (it's actually quite difficult) ### Tags dismissivecomplexityunderestimatedifficultymetaphor 1744 views • Created 3/19/2024 Share term ### Related Terms [ #### Make hay while the sun shines A farming metaphor used in business to mean "take advantage of good... 1746 views• farming, metaphor ](https://learnings.org/term/make-hay-while-the-sun-shines)[ #### My bad A casual, dismissive way to apologize that trivializes mistakes and makes serious... 1719 views• casual, dismissive ](https://learnings.org/term/my-bad)[ #### Level playing field A sports metaphor used in business to describe fair competition, usually said... 1550 views• sports, metaphor ](https://learnings.org/term/level-playing-field)[ #### One throat to choke A violent metaphor meaning you are the only place your client needs... 1142 views• violent, metaphor ](https://learnings.org/term/one-throat-to-choke)[ #### Best of breed A pretentious way to say "the best" that somehow makes you sound... 502 views• pretentious, redundant ](https://learnings.org/term/best-of-breed) Keep exploring the corporate jargon dictionary ## 🌍 In the Wild \+ Add Example No examples yet. Be the first to add one! ### 🤖 AI Tools 🎓 Translate with Professor📝 Open Writing Tools🎯 Play Buzzword Bingo Ask the Professor ## Additional source context © 2008–2026 Learnings Dot Org — Speak fluent corporate. Ironically. ## Additional page links - [Make hay while the sun shines · A farming metaphor used in business to mean "take advantage of good... · 1746 views• farming, metaphor](https://learnings.org/term/make-hay-while-the-sun-shines) — Related Terms - [My bad · A casual, dismissive way to apologize that trivializes mistakes and makes serious... · 1719 views• casual, dismissive](https://learnings.org/term/my-bad) — Related Terms - [Level playing field · A sports metaphor used in business to describe fair competition, usually said... · 1550 views• sports, metaphor](https://learnings.org/term/level-playing-field) — Related Terms - [One throat to choke · A violent metaphor meaning you are the only place your client needs... · 1142 views• violent, metaphor](https://learnings.org/term/one-throat-to-choke) — Related Terms - [Best of breed · A pretentious way to say "the best" that somehow makes you sound... · 502 views• pretentious, redundant](https://learnings.org/term/best-of-breed) — Related Terms