Idioms are not always easy to learn or understand, but these easy idioms will help you describe things that you find simple to do, as well as a whole load of other situations.
We’ll begin with some idioms that feature the word ‘easy’, plus some common ‘Easy as…‘ phrases. Then, we have some easy idioms that refer to something being effortless without actually using the word ‘easy’.
We have all bases covered here, including helpful definitions and example sentences.
Easy idioms – with the word ‘easy’
To breathe easy
This list of easy idioms will hopefully make you feel relaxed once you understand their meaning. When you are able to relax after a period of stress, difficulty or tension, you might say you can breathe easy.
“Now she’s out of the hospital I can breathe easy.”
Less common variations are breathe easily and breathe freely. Discover some more idioms about relaxing here.
Get off easy / Let off easy
Both of these easy idioms have the same meaning. Whether you are let off easy or you get off easy, you have been given a lighter-than-expected punishment. Just note that one is transitive whereas the other is intransitive.
“I think she was let off easy, considering it was her third offense.”
“You won’t get off easy if they catch you shoplifting.”
To take this even further, someone could get off scot-free, which means to escape without any punishment at all. This saying appears on our list of free idioms.
Go easy on someone
Similarly, when you go easy on someone you don’t treat them too harshly. You may make exceptions for them or be a little less demanding of them than usual.
“Listen, I know you’re mad, but go easy on him.”
“I think they went easy on her because she is going through a tough time at home.”
Easy peasy (lemon squeezy)
This is a great idiom for kids to learn as it is funny and rhymes. Easy peasy lemon squeezy can be shortened to just easy peasy, but either way, it’s a playful way of saying something is very simple.
“That science test was easy peasy lemon squeezy!”
Easier said than done
Although this is a list of easy idioms, sometimes things actually aren’t that easy to do. The expression easier said than done describes something that is easy to talk about or imagine, but difficult to do or achieve.
“I understand the company’s vision, but it’s a little eaiser said than done if you ask me!”
“Getting this house to a livable condition will be easier said than done.”
Free and easy
When something is free and easy, it is relaxed and casual. This could refer to an event that is very informal or the state of mind of a person.
“It’s going to be a very free and easy party with no dress code.”
In fact, the word ‘easy’ is used in this way by Lionel Richie in his song Easy (like Sunday mornings).
An easy ride
People who have an easy ride have an easy time doing something, or experience no problems when doing something difficult. Often, this phrase suggests some element of luck or unfairness, too.
“You’ve had an easy ride so far but all that’s about to change.”
“Joe gets an easy ride at work because his father owns the company.”
You will also hear this saying used in a negative structure, meaning that hard work is required in that situation.
“Don’t expect an easy ride at this job. Someone is always watching you.”
Easy on the ears / eyes
These two sayings are similar. If something is easy on the ears, it means it is pleasant to listen to. Likewise, if something is easy on the eyes, it is pleasant to look at.
“Her new boyfriend is very easy on the eyes.”
“I find classical music soothing and easy on the ears.”
Body part idioms are not only very common in English, but they are also a lot of fun to use.
Easy does it
Most of these easy idioms refer to something being simple to do or complete. But the adjective ‘easy’ can also mean ‘relaxed’ or ‘cautious’. You can say easy does it to tell someone to act slowly and carefully; to take their time.
“Guys! Easy does it! The TV is heavy and expensive and I don’t want you to drop it!”
Easy street
Someone living on easy street is living with no worries, particularly with regard to finances.
“They’ve been living on easy street, staying at our house all these months.”
This is just one of many finance and money idioms that are helpful to know.
I’m easy
Be careful when you say I’m easy or you describe someone else in this way, as it can have a couple of meanings.
In one sense, it means that you are relaxed and don’t mind the outcome of a particular situation. You are happy to agree with the decisions of others.
“Honestly, pizza or Chinese, whatever you fancy. I’m easy.”
“Simon said he’s easy, so we can pick the movie.”
Easy to please is a similar expression that means you’re not too fussy.
In another sense, describing someone as ‘easy’ is a derogative way to say they are promiscuous; not picky when it comes to having adult relationships.
Fortunately, it’s generally very easy to distinguish the intended meaning from the context and the person’s tone of voice.
Easy tiger
Again, this easy saying can have a number of meanings. You could use easy tiger to ask someone to calm down or back down if they are angry or upset. It can also be used to ask someone to slow down and not rush into something.
“Easy tiger, there’s no need to get upset over this.”
Only say this in informal settings to somebody you know well.
If you need other animal idioms to explore, look no further.
Easy as… sayings
There are many great ‘Easy as…’ similes in the English language, and they all refer to something being very simple or straightforward to do. Here are some of the most common:
- Easy as pie
- Easy as ABC
- Easy as 123
- Easy as cake
- Easy as anything
- Easy as falling off a log
- Easy as stealing candy from a baby
Any of these expressions can also be ‘As easy as…‘. And, you are free to make up your own funny ‘Easy as’ sayings! Just think of something that’s so simple to do, you wouldn’t even have to think about trying (falling off a log is a great example).
Easy idioms to describe simple tasks
Child’s play
To describe something as child’s play is to say that it is extremely easy to complete and there is no challenge at all.
“It was like child’s play. I don’t know what they are complaining about.”
Like shooting fish in a barrel
This has to be one of the more unusual easy idioms. Believe it or not, if someone describes something as like shooting fish in a barrel, they mean it is an extremely easy task.
“Changing a light bulb is like shooting fish in a barrel.”
You can use the funny idioms like falling off a log or like stealing candy from a baby in the same way, but we already mentioned those in our ‘As easy as…’ sayings list above.
Did you know there are many other fish-related idioms you can use in English?
Could do it with your eyes shut / with one hand tied behind your back
When you find something so simple you can do it without really thinking, or even when hindered in some way, you might say that you could do it with your eyes shut. You may also hear with your eyes closed or blindfolded.
You are not really offering to attempt the task in this way, but it’s a figurative expression to say it’s second nature to you.
“I’ve been walking in these woods since I was six years old. I could navigate them with my eyes shut.”
“Stacey has been practicing so hard for her gymnastics routine. I rekon she could do it blindfolded!”
This is similar to the idiom about learning, ‘know it by heart’.
Another version of this phrase is with one hand tied behind your back. This is used in the same way, but specifically with reference to a physical task that usually requires the use of both hands.
It’s not rocket science / brain surgery
Getting a rocket into space is complex. Performing an operation is challenging. So, when you say something isn’t rocket science or brain surgery, you are sarcastically saying that it isn’t that hard.
“Just park the car. It isn’t rocket science!”
“Sure, I can bake a cake for your birthday. It isn’t brain surgery, after all.”
A breeze / a doddle / a cinch / a snap
All of these expressions can simply be used to mean ‘very easy’. They are a fun way to emphasize that you find something simple to do.
“My driving test was a breeze.”
“Baking has never been my thing but my mum finds it a doddle.”
Note that ‘a doddle’ is a mainly British English idiom. ‘A breeze’ is also a way to describe the wind when it is gently blowing.
A walk in the park
Similar to those above, this walking idiom is just explaining that something is very achievable.
However, you could also say it’s a walk in the park when the task is easy and pleasant to do.
“Looking after my grandchildren is like a walk in the park. They are little angels.”
Low-hanging fruit
This is a popular work-related idiom. Low-hanging fruit refers to tasks that are easy to complete for a relatively large reward or return.
Thinking literally, the higher-up fruit is harder to pick as you may need a ladder, whereas the lower-hanging fruit can easily be picked without assistance.
“Ok team, let’s have a few wins today. What is the low-hanging fruit we can aim for?”
Nothing to it
Finally, we have yet another way to say that something is straightforward. Nothing to it again describes something that is simple to complete and requires little thought or effort.
“No need to repay me for fixing the sink; there’s nothing to it.”
Were those idioms easy for you to figure out? Which fun ones are you going to use today? And will you try making up some of your own fun ‘Easy as…’ similes? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!
