child's play
Meaning
Something extremely easy to do; a task requiring little effort or skill compared with what was expected.
Origin
Recorded from the 1500s; it contrasts adult difficulty with the simplicity of games children can manage, using “play” as a metaphor for ease.
Notes
Conveys “very easy,” often with confidence or mild bragging. Can sound dismissive of others’ effort; best in casual speech and friendly contexts.
Examples
-
After years of experience, fixing that bug was child's play.
-
Compared to the final exam, this quiz is child's play.
-
Once you learn the shortcut keys, editing videos becomes child's play.
-
For her, running a marathon is no child's play, even with months of training.
-
The instructions made assembling the shelf child's play.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as a noun phrase: “It’s child’s play,” “X is child’s play,” or “(compared to Y) it was child’s play.” Possessive is fixed as “child’s,” not plural “children’s” in the idiom.
Synonyms
- easy
- simple
- a breeze
- a piece of cake
- effortless
- a walk in the park
Antonyms
- a tall order
- an uphill battle
- a tough nut to crack
- no mean feat