"No Sweat!" 10 Alternatives for "Easy"

Learning a new language can often be difficult — there is a lot of vocabulary and tricky grammar to remember. That's why it's important to appreciate the times when things aren't hard to do.

This time, we'll look at words and expressions you can use in place of "easy." Some are adjectives as well, but others are idioms that must be understood figuratively.

As you continue your English study, we hope you will have many chances to use these terms. However, be careful when you use them; because they have an informal tone, they would not be appropriate in professional situations.

Easy-peasy

We'll begin with one of the simplest terms.

Often in English, "nonsense words" are added to make an expression sound more fun or silly. In this case, we add "peasy," which has no meaning by itself.

• I have a small motor on my bicycle, so even riding up big hills is easy-peasy.

Related article: No Dilly-Dallying: Funny (But Useful) English Word Pairs

A walk in the park

For many people, taking a walk in the park on a nice day is very relaxing. That's why this idiom is used to say that a task is not difficult at all.

• This game used to be very challenging for me. But now, finishing it is a walk in the park.

No sweat

Sweat usually results from heat, nervousness or hard work. So "no sweat" expresses that something is not hard or challenging.

Be careful when using it with nouns; "no sweat" should come after the noun it refers to, not before.

• x It was a no sweat test.
• o The test was no sweat.

It is also used to say that something is not a problem or an inconvenience. In this case, its meaning is close to "It's OK."

Again, this is quite casual, so it is not recommended in formal situations.

Blindfolded

"Blindfolded" suggests that someone could perform an action even if their eyes were covered. Therefore, it implies that the person has a high level of skill.

• May is amazing at this game. She could probably play blindfolded!

A breeze

Just like taking a walk in the park, feeling a soft breeze on a clear day is refreshing.

Compared to words like "gust" or "blast," which describe strong winds, a breeze is soft and pleasant — like the feeling of something that is easy.

• We had a good map, so finding the hotel from the train station was a breeze.

No problem

This expression is very simple and straightforward. 

• He's a chef at a great restaurant, so cooking delicious meals is no problem for him.

Related article: Essential English Vocabulary for Cooking

It can also be used as a way to accept a request.

This usage is the same in meaning as "Sure" or "Of course."

A picnic

Another enjoyable activity you can do outdoors is having a picnic. This can also refer to something that is not difficult. It's usually used to compare two different things, like in the example below.

• Yesterday's crossword puzzle was a picnic compared to today's.

Like "a walk in the park," people often use it in a negative sense to say that something is not easy.

• Raising kids is no picnic; it takes a lot of hard work.
• Raising kids is no walk in the park; it takes a lot of hard work.

A cinch

"Cinch" is a noun that means "an easy task."

• I used to struggle to communicate in a foreign language, but now it's a cinch.

A piece of cake

This common idiom means that something is not challenging or stressful.

• I thought the exam would be hard, but it was actually a piece of cake. 

When used as a response, omit the "a."

Child’s play

This expression suggests that something is easy enough for even a child to do.

• These trivia questions are child's play. I need something more challenging!

Wrap-up

"Easy" is an important and useful word to know. However, in casual conversations, it is often more fun and more interesting to use alternatives instead. 

So the next time you have a task that you can complete easily, surprise your language partners by using one of the expressions above. Study them all until using each naturally is a breeze!

• idioms
• other ways to say
• Vocabulary