C2idiomstudyIELTS-friendly
the three Rs
USUK
reading, writing and arithmetic, seen as the basic skills of education
From 'reading, (w)riting and (a)rithmetic', which all start with an R sound. Used in debates about education.
In context
Primary schools should focus on the three Rs before adding more subjects.
My grandmother left school at ten, but she had mastered the three Rs.
More idioms about study
- a bookworma person who loves reading and reads a lot
- a bright sparksaid ironically about someone whose clever idea was actually silly
- a closed booka subject that you do not understand or know anything about
- a crash coursea short course that teaches a lot in a very short time
- a dab hand at somethingvery good at a particular skill or activity