No-brainer
n.capable, calmplayful
What it means
A choice so clearly beneficial that it requires little thought.
Reach for it when calling a decision so clearly favorable that little deliberation is needed
Extending the library hours was a no-brainer for the council.
Choose between these
6- playful
slam dunk
confident informal certainty suits the audience
not when The sports idiom can sound boastful.
- everyday
easy choice
plain language should stress simple selection
not when An easy choice may still have weak benefits.
- everyday
obvious choice
the evidence points clearly to one option
not when Obvious can dismiss legitimate uncertainty.
- warm
clear winner
one option compares favorably with rivals
not when A winner can still require careful evaluation.
- formal
foregone conclusion
the outcome appears settled in advance
not when A conclusion concerns outcome, not necessarily a wise decision.
- formal
self-evident decision
the reasoning should appear inherent in the facts
not when Self-evident is a strong claim and invites scrutiny.
Said against
3- dilemma
- tough call
- close decision
It naturally appears in
3- an absolute no-brainer
Replacing the leaking valve was an absolute no-brainer.
- seem like a no-brainer
The free safety upgrade may seem like a no-brainer.
- make it a no-brainer
The lifetime warranty helped make it a no-brainer for the library.
Usage notes
No-brainer can belittle people who see real tradeoffs; use it only when the stakes and evidence genuinely align.