When something is a piece of cake, it is very easy to do. Piece of cake is an example of an idiom, (i.e., a phrase or group of words that has a meaning that isn’t immediately obvious from a literal reading of the words).
Nobody really knows where the phrase comes from. Various theories range from enslaved people in the southern US to British Army uses. In American English there is a theme of desserts or sweet things being equated with a simple task (e.g., “as easy as pie,” or a “cakewalk”).
Examples: Piece of cake in a sentence
Although Eric was worried the math test would be difficult, it turned out to be a piece of cake.
The level of ability in the contestants was very varied: some struggled with the task, but others found it to be a piece of cake.
The irony was delicious: no sooner had Pete said “This is a piece of cake!” then he fell flat on his face!
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Using piece of cake
You can use piece of cake in almost any circumstance where you want to indicate that something is almost laughably easy. The one exception might be in any form of formal academic writing.
To say something is a piece of cake is to say it is well within the doer’s capabilities, and it possibly suggests that the task in question has been mistakenly, or habitually, thought of as difficult.
Piece of cake in a sentence examples
Alice dropped the tools on the workbench with a flourish, “Piece of cake!” she said with a broad smile.
The practical test was always thought of as a piece of cake compared with the theory test.
Our instructor told us not to worry because, once we were familiar with the process, it would be a piece of cake.
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