child’s play

child’s play

Meaning

• an informal expression meaning something that is easy to do
• a trivial matter
• very easy task/work
• as easy as pie
• a piece of cake
• a cinch

Example Sentences

1. If you practise enough, driving will eventually become child’s play.
2. The hike that we did this weekend was child’s play. I am looking forward to something a bit more challenging.
3. Figuring out the password to his account was child’s play.
4. I do not know why you are all complaining about the exam. I thought it was child’s play.
5. An intricate equation like this is child’s play for someone with my superior intellect. I will show you how to solve it.

Origin

The phrase has been used since the 1300s. The phrase has changed since the original “child’s game.”

The present idiom was used by Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343 – 25 October 1400) in The Merchant’s Tale:

“It is no child’s play to take a wife.”

It is easy to assume that a game that is suitable for children to play will be simple for people of superior intellect. Thus, it makes it sound as if the person using the expression is smarter than someone who could not master the skill. In some instances, it is used by someone to make others feel inferior.

Children, Easy, Play, Work

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