easy (redirected from taking the easy way out)

an easy/smooth ride

a bumpy/rough ride - a difficult time. It has taken years to set up a support network without adequate funding. It hasn't been an easy ride.

See also: ride, smooth

be an easy/soft touch

if someone is an easy touch, it is easy to persuade them to do what you want them to do. Her Dad's an easy touch - he's always giving her money.

See also: soft, touch

be as easy as abc

to be very easy. You won't have any problems assembling your new bed - it's as easy as abc.

See also: ABC

be as easy as falling off a log (British, American & Australian, American)

to be very easy. She said writing stories was as easy as falling off a log for her.

See also: fall, log

be as easy as pie

to be very easy. Oh, come on! Even a child could do that, it's as easy as pie.

See also: pie

be easy meat (British & Australian, informal, American)

someone or something that is easy meat is easy to beat, criticize, or trick. United were easy meat in the semifinal on Wednesday. The elderly living alone are an easy mark for con-men.

See also: meat

be easy on the ear

if music is easy on the ear, it has a pleasant and relaxing sound. When I'm driving, I like to listen to music that's easy on the ear and not too demanding.

See also: ear

be easy on the eye

to have an attractive appearance. It's not a painting which is easy on the eye, but it attracts your attention for other reasons.

See also: eye

easier said than done

something that you say when something seems like a good idea but it would be difficult to do. The doctor says I should stop smoking but that's easier said than done.

See also: done, said

easy come, easy go (informal)

something that you say in order to describe someone who thinks that everything is easy to achieve, especially earning money, and who therefore does not worry about anything. Les could certainly spend money. Easy come, easy go it was with him.

Easy does it! (informal)

something that you say in order to tell someone to do something carefully. 'Easy does it!' Bob shouted, as I steered the boat into the dock.

See also: does

easy money

money that you earn with very little work or effort. It must be easy money writing for one of those magazines.

See also: money

free and easy

relaxed and informal. The atmosphere in our office is always free and easy.

See also: free

go easy (informal)

to not take or use too much of something. Avoid fried foods and go easy on the snacks. (often + on) Go easy! There's not much left!

go easy on someone (informal)

to treat someone in a gentle way and not punish them severely if they have done something wrong. They'll probably go easy on him since he hasn't been in trouble before.

It's easy to be wise after the event. (British, American & Australian, American)

something that you say which means that it is easy to understand what you could have done to prevent something bad from happening after it has happened. In retrospect I suppose we should have realised that she was in trouble and tried to help her but then I suppose it's easy to be wise after the event. People often tell me they'd never have taken out a loan if they'd thought about it more carefully - but it's easy to be smart after the fact.

See also: after, event, it's, wise

make easy meat of something/someone (British & Australian, informal)

be easy meat - someone or something that is easy meat is easy to beat, criticize, or trick. Our team made easy meat of them in the final.

See also: meat

take it easy

to relax and not use up too much energy. You'd better take it easy for a while - you don't want to get ill again.

See also: take

Take it easy!

something that you say in order to tell someone to be calm and not to get too angry or excited. Take it easy! I didn't mean any offence.

See also: take

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breathe easy

to relax. Baseball fans can breathe easy now that the players' strike is over.

See also: breathe

easier said than done

less difficult to talk about than to do. Gun control may be a good idea, but actually getting the guns out of the peoples' hands is easier said than done.

See also: done, said

(as) easy as A, B, C

(as) easy as pie

(as) easy as falling off a logSee: (as) easy as pie

See also: fall, log

(as) easy as pie

very easy. You make everything sound as easy as pie, George.

Usage notes: also used in the forms (as) easy as 1-2-3 or (as) easy as A, B, C very easy to understand and (as) easy as falling off a log very easy to do

See also: pie

easy does it

do this slowly and carefully. Easy does it going down the stairs, Mom.

See also: does

get off easy

1. to receive less punishment than expected. It's not right that someone can commit a major crime and get off lightly.

2. to have less difficulty than is usual. The Midwest got off easy with little snow this winter.

go easy on someone

to treat someone in a gentle way. The movie goes easy on her, but in real life she behaved like a tyrant.

Usage notes: often said about someone who does not punish others severely if they have done something wrong: He complains about judges who go easy on criminal defendants.

go easy on something

to not take or use too much of something. Go easy on coffee and alcohol when you fly.

let someone off easy

1. to give someone a light punishment. Stern let Robbins off easy, suspending him for just three games.

2. to demand less effort from someone. She laughed at the suggestion that people are letting her off easy now that she is 81.

See also: let

take it easy

1. to rest and relax. She said I looked really tired, and told me to take it easy.

2. to be calm and not get too excited or angry. I know you're upset, but you just take it easy, I'll make you some tea, and you can tell me all about it.

Usage notes: often used as an instruction: Now just take it easy and stop waving that knife around.

3. goodbye. “Well, it was nice talking to you. Take it easy.” “You too. Bye-bye.”

Usage notes: used to end a conversation

See also: take