Its not rocket science you know

[padyer]

What did people used to say instead of "Its not rocket science" before rockets were invented.

[Quizmonster]

The earliest-recorded use of the word 'rocket' in the sense meant here was in the early 1600s, so they must have been invented some time before that! Accordingly, there was no equivalent phrase in direct answer to your question.

In more modern times, however, it was common to hear people say: "You don't have to be a brain surgeon to understand this." Will that do?

[padyer]

Did they used to do a lot of brain surgery prior to the 1930's which is when the "rocket science" that we know of to day was fist started.

[Quizmonster]

If you click here, that will link you to a web-page which outlines the facts about the history of brain-surgery. It dates back about 10 millennia...so, yes, somewhat earlier than the 1930s!

[jenstar]

It's not flintnapping, you know!

[Ewood27]

I gather some people have been heard to say, "It's not rocket surgery, you know"! Perhaps they need some brain science.

[rja211077]

ok what did people say instead of 'reinvent the wheel' before the wheel was invented? huh?

[Quizmonster]

Or 'back to the drawing-board', before drawing-boards were invented?

[DOB]

Or "lets ask theanswerbank.co.uk" before it was invented?

[Shapeshifter]

The earliest known equivalent dates back about 15,000 years and was found in picture form in Peru. Its translation is unknown.