PhrasesHub

piece of cake

    Definitions

      • Something is very easy to do
        To express that a task or activity is simple and requires little effort or skill to complete successfully

      • A task or activity is already completed
        To indicate that something has already been accomplished or resolved, often in a successful or effortless manner

      • To underestimate a task or activity
        To downplay the difficulty or complexity of a task or activity, often resulting in underestimating the amount of time and effort needed to complete it

    Examples of piece of cake

    • The math test was a piece of cake for me.

      This idiom is used to describe something that is very easy to do. The math test was so easy for the speaker that it was as simple as eating a piece of cake.

    • Baking a cake is a piece of cake for my grandmother.

      This example shows that the idiom can also be used to describe someone's ability to do something easily. Baking a cake is so easy for the speaker's grandmother that it is as simple as eating a piece of cake.

    • Cleaning my room is a piece of cake compared to studying for an exam.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to compare the difficulty of two things. Cleaning the speaker's room is much easier than studying for an exam, just as eating a piece of cake is easier than studying for an exam.

    • The new software is a piece of cake to use.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe something that is easy to use. The new software is so easy to use that it is as simple as eating a piece of cake.

    • My sister's cooking is a piece of cake, but my cooking is a disaster.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to compare the skills of two people. The speaker's sister's cooking is so easy and successful that it is as simple as eating a piece of cake, while the speaker's own cooking is much more difficult and unsuccessful.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "piece of cake" is used to convey the idea that something is very easy to do, often with little effort or skill required. It can also be used to indicate that a task or activity has already been completed, often in a successful or effortless manner. Additionally, it can be used to underestimate the difficulty or complexity of a task or activity, leading to potential challenges in completing it.

    Origin of "piece of cake"

    The origin of the idiom "piece of cake" is not entirely clear, but there are a few theories. One theory suggests that the phrase originated in the United States in the 1870s, when cakes were often given as prizes at county fairs. The cakes were typically divided into equal sized pieces and the winner would receive the "piece of cake." This may have led to the phrase being used to describe something that is easily won or achieved.

    Another theory suggests that the phrase originated in the Royal Air Force during World War II. Pilots would sometimes refer to easy missions as "a piece of cake," meaning that they were simple and required little effort. This could have eventually spread to everyday language and become a commonly used phrase.

    Regardless of its exact origin, the idiom "piece of cake" has been used in English for many years and continues to be a popular expression to convey the idea of something being easy or effortless.