A piece of cake


What's the meaning of the phrase 'Piece of cake'?

Other phrases:

A straightforward task that can easily be accomplished.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Piece of cake'?

This phrase is of American origin. At least, the earliest citation of it that I can find is from the American poet and humorist Ogden Nash’s Primrose Path, 1936:

“Her picture’s in the papers now, And life’s a piece of cake.”

The choice of cake or pie as a symbol of ease and pleasantry is well represented in the language. Other phrases along the same lines include:

As easy as pie

Pie in the sky

A cake-walk

That takes the cake/biscuit‘.

See other phrases that were coined in the USA.

Trend of a piece of cake in printed material over time

Gary Martin is a 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.

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.
A piece of cake

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