As easy as ABC; as easy as winking; as easy as shelling peas

are similarly used.

"Easy as shelling peas, " he kept telling himself.

"Easy as winking. And a cool fifty at the end of

it." (N. C.)

He found the job they had given him as easy as

shelling peas. (K. H.)

"Well, it's as easy as ABC, " she said. (A. Chr.)

Plain sailing is colloquial for clear and straight course; freedom from difficulties, obstacles; it's all plain sailing now (difficulties are overcome).

The case was comparatively plain sailing. (S. M.)

After we engaged a guide everything was plain sailing. (A. H.)

Verbal phrases connected with the idea of easiness are: to take something in one's stride — to do it easily; to do it without any special effort

How d'you like the old car now? I've lengthened her a good two feet. Isn't she grand? Mind you, there's still a little bother with the gearbox.

We didn't quite take the hill in our stride, as

ye might say! (A. C.)

"Boche patrols all over!" "Two armored cars!"

Mantin took the news in his stride. He seemed

to know what was up. (S. H.)

They could not take their luck in their stride.

(C. S.)

to waltz (romp) through (an examination) — to do it with ease

He waltzed through his examinations. (W. B.)

Other phrases similarly used are: I can do it blindfold; I can do it standing on my head; I can do it with my hands tied behind my back, all meaning I can do it quite easily, without efforts.

He can do it standing on his head. (W. B.)

a walk-over — an easy victory; a complete and easy victory in a competition.

"How were the Finals?"

Bill grinned. "Oh, them, " he said. "They're jam.

They're a walk-over." (N. C.)

They had a walk-over in the men's doubles

(W. B.)

To have an easy victory is to win hands down.

Bickering. Oh, come! the garden party was fright­fully exciting. My heart began beating like any­thing.

Higgins. Yes, for the first three minutes. But when I saw we were going to win hands down, I felt like a bear in a cage, hanging about doing nothing. (B. Sh.)

He won all his money hands down. (K. H.) You can leave all the rest to me — it's all over but the shouting, and we win hands down. (J. F.)

Colloquial phrases that serve to correct a misapprehension about the ease and comfort of something (a job, etc.) are: it's not all beer and skittles; it's not all lavender — it's

not all pleasure, comfort and ease

An editor's job is not all beer and skittles. (W. B.) An entertainer's life is not all beer and skittles (W. B.) It's not all lavender being a queen. (D. E. S.)

it's no picnic — it's not easy; it's not an easy and

pleasant affair

A proverb on the same lines:

Life is not all beer and skittles. (Life contains trouble as

well as pleasures and one should expect to meet difficulties

in life as well as easy times.)

Дата добавления: 2015-10-29