A piece of cake

Meaning

"A piece of cake" is an idiom that means something is very easy to do or accomplish. The phrase is derived from the literal meaning of a cake, which is a simple dessert that can be made with just a few ingredients and little effort. However, in figurative terms, the idiom implies that a task or challenge is so straightforward that it barely requires any effort at all.

Usage

• "The math problem was a piece of cake for me." (In this sentence, the speaker implies that solving the math problem was extremely easy and straightforward.)
• "I found my old friend after searching for hours. It was like finding a needle in a haystack - but to me, it was a piece of cake!" (This usage suggests that although the task of finding an old friend may seem difficult, once accomplished, it was surprisingly easy.)
• "I'm not a fan of public speaking, but I managed to give a great presentation. It wasn't brain surgery or rocket science - just a piece of cake!" (In this example, the speaker compares giving a great presentation to something that is incredibly simple and easy.)
• "The traffic was heavy today, but my commute was still a breeze. I barely had to wait in line, it was like going through a toll booth without any issues." (This usage implies that despite the heavy traffic, the speaker's commute was exceptionally smooth and easy.)
• "I don't have a green thumb, so I'm not very good at gardening. But planting my new flowers was a piece of cake!" (In this context, the speaker implies that even though they are not skilled at gardening, they were able to plant their new flowers with ease.)

Roots and History

"A piece of cake" has been in use since at least the 16th century. One of the earliest known uses was by William Shakespeare, who wrote "I have spoken with a very intelligent lady. She will not be quick to speak or slow to learn; she is rather of that temper that I think will grow into a great and worthy companion" in his play "Henry IV, Part 1." In this context, the phrase implies that someone was easy to get along with and pleasant to be around. Over time, the meaning of the idiom has evolved to imply that something is extremely easy to do or accomplish, regardless of whether it involves interpersonal relationships or other types of tasks.

Synonyms in English

• Easy peasy lemon squeezy
• Piece of walking cake
• No sweat off my back

Synonyms in other languages

• 驚礙的 (Japanese) - This phrase means "amazing" or "surprising". It is used to describe something that is unexpectedly easy to do or accomplish.
• 一點不难 (Mandarin Chinese) - This phrase translates to "not difficult at all". It is often used to describe tasks or challenges that are incredibly easy to overcome.
• انيريته (Iranian) - This Persian word means "easy" or "simple". It is commonly used to describe tasks or activities that require minimal effort or time.
• وبس (Arabic) - This phrase translates to "that's it" or "it's over". It is often used to express surprise or disbelief when someone accomplishes a task or challenge with ease.
• تולים (Hebrew) - This Hebrew word means "easy". It is commonly used to describe tasks or activities that are simple and straightforward, without requiring much effort or time.

Similar Idioms

• break the mould

• as far as

• a cat may look at a king