A Piece of Cake

Definition

A piece of cake is an idiom meaning something that is very easy to do.

Parts of Speech

• Idiom
• Noun phrase

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ə piːs əv keɪk/
• Respelling: uh-PEESS uhv KAYK

Etymology

Early 20th century (U.S. colloquial): from the notion of cakewalk contests whose prize was cake, hence something easily won.

Derivatives

• none

Synonyms

• cinch
• easy as pie
• a breeze
• no sweat

Antonyms

• difficult
• challenging
• tough
• arduous

Usage

The idiom "a piece of cake" is used in informal spoken and written contexts to describe tasks or activities that are very easy. For example, "The math test was a piece of cake," or "Fixing the leak turned out to be a piece of cake."

Related Terms

• Cakewalk: An ostentatious, easy victory or performance.
• Cinch: Something very easy to do.
• Easy as pie: Idiom meaning extremely simple.
• No sweat: Informal expression meaning no difficulty.
• Breeze: Informal term for something effortlessly done.

Detailed Definitions

Idiom / Noun Phrase

• Something that is very easy to accomplish – a task or situation requiring little effort.
  • Example: "For someone who practices every day, that song is a piece of cake."
• An effortless or trouble‑free experience – an occurrence that goes smoothly without challenges.
  • Example: "Once you learn the controls, the game is a piece of cake."