“Elementary, my dear Watson” is one of the most iconic phrases associated with Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective. It instantly conjures images of Holmes’s brilliant deductions and playful interactions with his loyal companion, Dr Watson.
But did you know that this phrase, although widely attributed to Holmes, never actually appears in its complete form in any of Conan Doyle’s original stories? Instead, it emerged as a popular catchphrase through various adaptations of Sherlock Holmes in stage, film and radio, cementing its place in the public imagination.
The closest seems to be in the story titled The Adventure of the Crooked Man:
“I have the advantage of knowing your habits, my dear Watson,” said he. “When your round is a short one you walk, and when it is a long one you use a hansom. As I perceive that your boots, although used, are by no means dirty, I cannot doubt that you are at present busy enough to justify the hansom.”
“Excellent!” I cried.
“Elementary,” said he. “It is one of those instances where the reasoner can produce an effect which seems remarkable to his neighbour, because the latter has missed the one little point which is the basis of the deduction.
Or maybe in The Hound of the Baskervilles:
“Interesting, though elementary,” said he, as he returned to his favourite corner of the settee. “There are certainly one or two indications upon the stick. It gives us the basis for several deductions.”
The word “elementary” reflects Holmes’ methodical approach to solving mysteries. To him, the most complex cases often boiled down to simple, logical steps that only required careful observation and reasoning. When he says, “my dear Watson,” it reflects the affectionate yet sometimes condescending tone Holmes adopts toward Watson, who, though intelligent, usually serves as the everyman who cannot follow Holmes’ intricate line of thought.
Together, the phrase captures the essence of Sherlock Holmes: the detective’s unmatched brilliance, his casual manner in solving the unsolvable, and the camaraderie between him and Watson that has charmed readers for more than a century.
The word “elementary” reflects Holmes’ methodical approach to solving mysteries. To him, the most complex cases often boiled down to simple, logical steps that only required careful observation and reasoning. When he says, “my dear Watson,” it reflects the affectionate yet sometimes condescending tone Holmes adopts toward Watson, who, though intelligent, usually serves as the everyman who cannot follow Holmes’ intricate line of thought.
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Quote Investigator: Elementary, My Dear Watson
The Adventure of the Crooked Man by Arthur Conan Doyle
The Adventure of the Crooked Man by Arthur Conan Doyle
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
Susannah Fullerton: Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson first appear
Susannah Fullerton: Arthur Conan Doyle is born
Susannah Fullerton: Arthur Conan Doyle dies
Susannah Fullerton: The Hound of the Baskervilles Reader’s Guide
Susannah Fullerton: Brief Encounters, Literary Travellers in Australia 1836-1939
Eddie Plotisma
In that masterpiece of the silver screen, “The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It” (where – spoiler alert – the identity of Francine Moriarty is revealed in the denouement, played by Connie Booth in black leather), there are recurrent scenes where Holmes (John Cleese) and Watson (Arthur Lowe) are completing a crossword puzzle (all whilst a succession of victims are being murdered). Watson: “’Simple source of citrus fruit’ …. One, five and four”. Holmes: “A lemon tree, my dear Watson”. In a succession of clues and solutions more agonising than the crime spree scenes that are being interleaved, the clues continue. Two down. “Conservative pays ex-wife maintenance” – Seven and four. Three down: “Southern California style” – One, two and eight. Four down. “Burglar’s entrance?” Five and five. Twenty-five down. “Cowardly fish with a sting in its tail”.
“Yellow manta ray, my dear Watson” ….
Susannah Fullerton
I’ve never seen the film you refer to. There are so many film adaptations of the Holmes canon, some good and some truly dire. Thanks for letting me know about this one.