English Idiom – Cakewalk
Meaning – The idiom cakewalk is used to describe something that is very easy to do. It is often used to describe a task that requires little effort or skill.
The term cakewalk originated in the late 19th century in the United States. It was derived from a dance of African American slaves, in which the winner was awarded a cake. The dance was seen as a way for slaves to mock their masters, as the dance was often done in a more exaggerated and humorous way than the dances of the masters. Over time, the term cakewalk came to mean something that was easy to do. Read more – The Extraordinary Story Of Why A ‘Cakewalk’ Wasn’t Always Easy
Related Expressions:
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- You are discussing a project at work that proved to be much easier to complete than you initially thought it would.
- If you are describing an easy victory for your favourite football team.
- You are describing a recent English test to a classmate!
Example:
- “I thought the assignment would be a cakewalk, but it turned out to be much more difficult than I expected.”
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Discuss:
- Is there an idiom like this in your country?
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.