pure and simple

Idioms  

1. No more and no less, plainly so, as in This so-called educational video is really a game, pure and simple. This expression is very nearly redundant, since pure and simple here mean “plain” and “unadorned.” Oscar Wilde played on it in The Importance of Being Earnest (1895): “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” [Second half of 1800s]

---

Example Sentences

In December 1886, Samuel Gompers founded the American Federation of Labor, organizing only skilled workers and focusing on “pure and simple” unionism that rejected state intervention.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The complaints went to head office to be dealt with. However, no one sees this as a head office problem; it's a Kent problem. Pure and simple."

From BBC

This, the body said, "constitutes, pure and simple, a form of cheating".

From BBC

“He is saying they follow the law pure and simple,” Shapiro said.

From Los Angeles Times

They lost because of their clueless campaign, pure and simple.

From Salon

Related Words

• authentic
• bright
• classic
• natural
• neat
• perfect
• plain
• real
• simple
• transparent
• true
• unadulterated