Piece-of-piss

What's the meaning of the phrase 'Piece-of-piss'?

A straightforward task that can easily be accomplished.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Piece-of-piss'?

This is a vulgar variant of ‘piece of cake‘. It is of UK origin and the first records of it are from the RAF during WWII. Eric Partridge, in his A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, Edition 3, 1945, lists it like this:

“Piece of piss, a ‘piece of cake’… R.A.F.: 1940+.”

Browse more Phrases

About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Phrases & Meanings

A-Z

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T UV W XYZ