Where does the saying piece of cake come from?

Something easily accomplished, as in I had no trouble finding your house—a piece of cake. This expression originated in the Royal Air Force in the late 1930s for an easy mission, and the precise reference is as mysterious as that of the simile easy as pie.

Who invented the phrase piece of cake?

The term was first used in print in 1936 by Ogden Nash who wrote, “Her picture's in the papers now, and life's a piece of cake.” Today the term is commonly used to describe tests at school, or friendly competitions.

Is a piece of cake American or British?

A piece of cake is an American idiom with roots in the Old South. An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal definition. We will examine the definition of a piece of cake, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences.

Do British people say piece of cake?

(The blue line represents British uses of the phrase “was a piece of cake” and the red line, American uses.) Thus at the time Manry was writing, it was still predominantly a British phrase, but that would soon change.

Do Americans say piece of cake?

When a task is easy or straightforward, Americans will say it's a "piece of cake." The phrase likely derives from a line in "The Primrose Path," a 1935 poetry collection by American humorist Ogden Nash: "Her picture's in the papers now, and life's a piece of cake."

Learn / Teach English Idioms: Piece of cake!

What is piece of cake slang for?

Definition of piece of cake

: something easily done : cinch, breeze.

What does like two peas in a pod mean?

Definition of two peas in a pod

—used to say that two people or things are very similar to each other My brother and I are two peas in a pod. We both like the same things.

Why was the cat in the bag?

The medieval scam explanation

As the story goes, shady livestock vendors in medieval marketplaces sought to swindle their buyers. When someone would purchase a pig, the vendor would sneak a cat into the bag instead, cheating the buyer out of the higher price for a pig.

Where did the idiom hit the hay come from?

The term 'hit the hay' is believed to have originated in 1903, when The Oakland Tribune reported that “Sam Berger, the Olympic heavyweight…was sleepy and he announced that 'he was going to hit the hay. '”

Why is bed called the sack?

This phrase originated in America around the late 1800s to early 1900s, when mattresses used to consist of old sacks filled with hay or straw.

Why do we say turn over a new leaf?

Way back in the 16th century, pages in books were referred to as leaves. So tuning over a new leaf meant that one was turning to a blank page. This idiom was used to signify a major change in behavior, or a new stage in life.

What does bringing home the bacon mean?

informal. : to earn the money that is needed to live He worked hard all week to bring home the bacon for his family.

Where does raining cats and dogs come from?

The phrase is supposed to have originated in England in the 17th century. City streets were then filthy and heavy rain would occasionally carry along dead animals. Richard Brome's The City Witt, 1652 has the line 'It shall rain dogs and polecats'. Also, cats and dogs both have ancient associations with bad weather.

When the blank is away the mice will play?

Without supervision, people will do as they please, especially in disregarding or breaking rules. For example, As soon as their parents left, the children invited all their friends over-when the cat's away, you know .

What does it mean to let the cat out of the bad?

Definition: To reveal a secret accidentally. This idiom is used when one or more people learn new information that was meant to stay hidden or unknown. It is often used when someone shares the secret information verbally, but it can also be used when the information is discovered in other ways.

What does chalk and cheese mean?

When you say that two people are like 'chalk and cheese', you are suggesting that the two are very different from each other; they have nothing in common. The expression, which has the same meaning as 'apples and oranges', can be used with things as well. No one is really sure about the origin of this idiom.

What does fish out of water mean?

A person away from his or her usual environment or activities. For example, Using a computer for the first time, Carl felt like a fish out of water, or On a hiking trail, Nell was a fish out of water. This expression alludes to the fact that fish cannot survive for long on dry land. [ Late 1300s]

Were thick as thieves meaning?

Definition of thick as thieves

: very close and secretive They were (as) thick as thieves for weeks, which made us wonder what they were doing.

Is the cat out of the bag meaning?

To disclose a secret: “The mayor's visit was to be kept strictly confidential, but someone must have let the cat out of the bag, because the airport was swarming with reporters.”

What does hitting the sack mean?

(also hit the hay) infml to go to bed in order to sleep: I've got a busy day tomorrow, so I think I'll hit the sack.

What is rain of fish?

The city said raining fish is a phenomenon called "animal rain" that happens when small water animals such as frogs, crabs or small fish are swept into waterspouts.

Can it rain frogs?

Is it possible to rain frogs? It is possible to “rain frogs” when certain weather conditions are met. Frogs may be scooped up in severe weather and strong wind gusts including updrafts, waterspouts, tornadoes, or windstorms, and may fall from the sky accompanied by rain once the atmospheric pressure drops.

Do cats like rain?

Do Cats Like the Rain? Most cats don't like the rain and for good reason. Their top coat is water-resistant, but if they're out in a downpour, then moisture can sink past this layer and make them uncomfortable. A waterlogged coat hampers a cat's ability to keep itself warm by losing body heat quicker than normal.

What is the meaning of born with silver spoon and fork?

born into a very rich family and having a privileged upbringing. This expression is usually used to show resentment or disapproval.