Difficulty - Without Effort

Explore English idioms that relate to being without effort, including "break a sweat" and "walk in the park".

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hands down [phrase]

in a way that is effortless or easy

Ex: The skilled musician could play the difficult piece hands down , effortlessly showcasing his talent .

like a (hot|) knife through butter [phrase]

with minimum effort or time

Ex: With his sharp negotiating skills , he cut through the complex contract like a knife through butter .

to [break] a sweat [phrase]

to need to put a lot of hard work or energy into doing something

Ex: She 's so talented at solving puzzles ; she can complete a difficult crossword without breaking a sweat .

to be (smooth|clear) sailing [phrase]

to progress without facing problems or difficulties

Ex: They anticipated difficulties in the negotiation , but it turned out to be clear sailing with no major disputes .

like riding a (bike|bicycle) [phrase]

(of a learned skill) still easy to do after not practicing for long

Ex: I have n't played the piano in years , but it 's just like riding a bike ; I still remember how to play .

to [take] to {sth} like a duck to water [phrase]

to be really good at something as soon as one starts to do it

Ex: He moved to a foreign country and took to the language like a duck to water ; he 's now fluent in no time .

no muss, no fuss [sentence]

said to mean that something can be easily done or achieved

Ex:

walk in the park [phrase]

used to refer to a really easy task or undertaking

Ex: Cooking a simple pasta dish is a walk in the park ; it only takes a few minutes .

low-hanging fruit [phrase]

the easiest achievable task in a given situation

Ex: When setting goals , it 's a good idea to begin with the low-hanging fruit and then tackle the more challenging ones .

no prizes for guessing [sentence]

said to mean that something is very easy to find out

Ex: No prizes for guessing that she 's going to choose the chocolate dessert ; it 's her favorite .

(line|path) of least resistance [phrase]

the fastest or easiest way in which something can be done or dealt with

Ex: Instead of trying to convince him to change his mind , she chose the path of least resistance and agreed with his plan .

to [be] in smooth [water] [phrase]

to experience no or very few difficulties or disruptions, particularly after a period of hardship

Ex: His career has been in smooth water for the past few years , with no major setbacks .

to [be] {one's} for the (taking|asking) [phrase]

to be achievable or available for someone without much difficulty or time

Ex:

to [fall into|drop into|land into] {one's} lap [phrase]

to receive something unexpectedly and without effort

Ex:

free ride [noun]

a benefit that is obtained at the cost or with the effort of another person

Ex: Sarah always gets a free ride from her parents , living at home without paying rent or bills .

with one (hand|arm) (tied|) behind {one's} back [phrase]

in an easy manner and without facing many difficulties

Ex: The expert juggler amazed the audience by effortlessly juggling multiple objects , skillfully demonstrating his mastery with one hand behind his back .

Difficulty
Hard Tasks	Difficult Challenges	Causing Difficulty	Troublemaking
Adding Complexity	Experiencing Difficulties	Facing Unpleasantness	Easy Tasks
Without Effort	Acceptance & Relief	Means & Solutions