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Elementary my dear Watson
Elementary my dear Watson
Elementary my dear Watson : Phrases
Meaning:
The supposed explanation that Sherlock Holmes gave to his assistant, Dr. Watson, when explaining deductions he had made.
Origin:
In fact the line doesn't appear in the Conan Doyle books, only later in Sherlock Holmes' films.
He does come rather close at a few of points. Holmes says "Elementary" in 'The Crooked Man', and "It was very superficial, my dear Watson, I assure you" in 'The Cardboard Box'. He also says "Exactly, my dear Watson, in three different stories.
The phrase was first used by P. G. Wodehouse, in Psmith Journalist, 1915.