piece of cake
Meaning
Something very easy to do; requiring little effort or skill.
Origin
Recorded from the early–mid 20th century. The idea is that eating a piece of cake is pleasant and effortless; it also gained popularity alongside “cakewalk,” an event thought of as easy for the winner.
Notes
Casual and upbeat (“super easy”). Can sound dismissive of others’ effort or difficulty, so avoid in sensitive or high-stakes contexts.
Examples
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The math test was a piece of cake for her.
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Once you learn the shortcuts, editing the video is a piece of cake.
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Don’t worry about the interview—if you’re prepared, it’ll be a piece of cake.
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Compared to last year’s project, this one should be a piece of cake.
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He said assembling the furniture would be a piece of cake, but it took him all afternoon.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used with “be”: “It’s/That was a piece of cake.” Often preceded by “a.” Can be modified: “a real piece of cake.” Rarely pluralized; fixed word order.
Synonyms
- easy
- very easy
- simple
- effortless
- a breeze
- child's play
- no sweat
- easy as pie
Antonyms
- a tough nut to crack
- an uphill battle
- hard as nails
- not so easy