Plainly So, Without Amplification or Dilution
🔍 Definition
This self-evident pairing—sometimes verging on redundancy—implies stating something clearly and without any additions or exaggerations.
Oscar Wilde captured the essence of this cliché in his 1895 play, “The Importance of Being Earnest”:
“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
😆 Humorous Quote
“As clear and unembellished as a kindergarten drawing: you know what it’s supposed to be, even if it’s muddy around the edges.”
📚 Literature & Media Recommendations
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“The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde: A quintessential example of wit and sophisticated humor, emphasizing the intricacies of social peculiarities.
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“1984” by George Orwell: The novel strips down complex social dynamics into blunt truths, much like the cliché in focus.
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“Crash,” directed by Paul Haggis: A movie that showcases raw, unfiltered perspectives of cultural and social tensions.
📕 Related Terms and Synonyms
- Straightforward
- Unembellished
- Blunt
- Simple
❌ Antonyms
- Complicated
- Convoluted
- Ornate
- Ambiguous
Similar Expressions
- “Straight as an arrow”
- “To the point”
- “In a nutshell”
- “No bones about it”
📖 Proverbs
- “Less is more.”
- “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” — Leonardo Da Vinci
🤔 Thought-Provoking Farewell
May your words be as crisp and clear as a winter’s morning and as impactful as a Wildean epigram. Until next time, speak plainly and let your truth shine without the frills.
1
### Which phrase is a common cliché?
- [x] Plainly so, without amplification or dilution
- [ ] Roughly so, with amplification and dilution
- [ ] Blurry as a fishtank
- [ ] Softly but with a wolf’s growl
> **Explanation:** "Plainly so, without amplification or dilution" is a common albeit redundant-sounding phrase used to mean crystal clear and straightforward.
### Identify the idiom related to simplicity:
- [x] Cutting to the chase
- [ ] Chasing the rainbow
- [ ] Building castles in the air
- [ ] Harvesting moonbeams
> **Explanation:** "Cutting to the chase" means getting straight to the point, similar to speaking plainly without embellishments.
### True or False: "Less is more" is a proverb.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** "Less is more" is indeed a proverb that stresses the power and beauty of simplicity.
### Which phrase implies over-explanation?
- [ ] In a nutshell
- [ ] Simple as pie
- [ ] Clear as daylight
- [x] Making a mountain out of a molehill
> **Explanation:** "Making a mountain out of a molehill" refers to exaggerating or over-complicating a simple issue.
### True or False: "Straight as an arrow" means straightforward.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** "Straight as an arrow" indeed means straightforward and can be used interchangeably with being plain and clear.
