Said of something that isn’t complex or difficult to understand.
A twenty page handbook of instructions to erect a tent! How difficult can it be? Its not exactly rocket science.
America, late 20th century.
1. A scientific test to distinguish between gold and base metals. 2. A conclusive test to determine the validity of a claim.
1. We found a mineral that looked valuable but it might be fools gold – we need to give it the acid test. 2. The acid test of the quality of a singer is to ask them to sing unaccompanied.
USA, mid-19th century.
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