easy1 adjectiveeasy2 adverb
easyeas‧y1 /ˈiːzi/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective (comparative easier, superlative easiest) 
WORD ORIGINeasy1
Origin:
1100-1200 Old French aisié, from aise; ➔ EASE1EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- All the instructions are in large print to make them easy to read.
- Being a teacher isn't easy.
- He doesn't find it easy to talk about his personal feelings.
- He has lived an easy life in college for the last few years.
- I think Paul's had a pretty easy life.
- It's an easy journey - we just drive to the station, then take the direct train to Paris.
- It is easy to see why she didn't marry him.
- Lawyers really have it easy -- lots of money for very little work.
- Mr. Taylor is an easy teacher.
- Ms. Morrell is a small woman with a soft voice and an easy smile.
- Susan's always found school work easy.
- The questions were really easy.
- There's no easy way to solve this problem.
- This is not an easy time to be traveling.
- Was it easy for you to find a job?
- As on Suilven, the ridge dips to an easy saddle and rises to an east top.
- It was easy to see that he was clever and well read, but he was also boring.
- Microsoft is a longer name, yet still easy to pronounce, and described the software product perfectly.
- The Bit Shot is also quiet, lightweight and easy to handle.
- The Merrimac laid off at easy point-blank range, discharging her broadsides alternately at the Cumberland and the Congress.
- This is of course very easy since what the spreadsheet has stored in cells C and D is a time serial number.
- With the use of oil as a transport fuel for cars, things are not so easy.
THESAURUS
not difficult to do, and not needing much effort: · an easy task· The house was easy to find.
easy and not complicated – used about things such as instructions and explanations, or about machines and systems: · The system is relatively simple to operate.· a simple recipe for chocolate cake
easy to understand or do, and unlikely to cause you any problems: · a straightforward explanation· The calculation is fairly straightforward.
easy to use – used especially about computers or written information about how to do something: · Their website is very user-friendly.· a user-friendly guide to owning a dog
easy because it does not take a lot of effort: · It was an undemanding role for someone of his experience.
informal a cushy job is easy to do and needs very little effort – often used when you are envious of the person who has it: · It’s a pretty cushy job – all she has to do is drive a nice car around.· a cushy number (=a very easy job)
so easy that you can do it without thinking – used especially when it makes you feel bored: · mindless tasks
without any difficulties or problems – used especially when you expected something to be much worse: · Finding the carhire place at the airport was relatively painless.· Thankfully, there's a wide selection of search tools to make the task relatively painless.
British English, be smooth sailing American English to be easy and with no problems that you have to deal with: · Things should be plain sailing from now on.
informal phrases meaning very easy informal to be very easy to do, especially compared to doing something else: · This test was a piece of cake compared to the last one.
informal to be surprisingly easy, or much easier than something else which is very difficult or dangerous: · Getting people’s credit card details is child’s play when you know how to do it.· Climbing in England is child’s play compared to climbing in the Himalayas.
informal (also be a doddle British English) to be very easy to do: · The software is a doddle to use.· The check-in process was a breeze.
informal used when saying that something is very easy to do or understand, and you do not need to be intelligent to do it: · Making your PC run faster isn’t exactly rocket science.
Longman Language Activatoreasy to do, use, or understand not difficult to do, use, or understand: · The questions were really easy.· It's an easy journey - we just drive to the station, then take the direct train to Paris.· Our new computer system should make the work a lot easier.easy to read/use/learn etc: · All the instructions are in large print to make them easy to read.it is easy to do something: · It is easy to see why she didn't marry him.easy for somebody to do something: · Was it easy for you to find a job?find something easy/find it easy to do something: · Susan's always found school work easy.· He doesn't find it easy to talk about his personal feelings.
easy not hard is more informal than not difficult: · "Did you make this pizza yourself?" "Yes, it's not difficult."it's not difficult to do something: · It's not difficult to see why she's unhappy all the time.· The reason for the problem is not hard to find.
easy to understand or do because it is not complicated - use this about things like explanations or instructions, or about machines or systems: · She drew us a simple map so that we wouldn't get lost.· I like this recipe because it's so simple.be simple to use/make/prepare etc: · The new photocopier is much simpler to use than the one we had before.
easy to understand and easy to do, so someone should not have any problems - use this especially about a method or process: · It is very straightforward - you just type the file name, then press 'Enter'.· There's a straightforward calculation for working out how much tax you have to pay.
spoken easy to use or understand - use this especially about computers or written information: · We are trying to develop software that is more user-friendly.· The booklet is intended to be a user-friendly guide to pension schemes.
to be very easy to do spoken informal · If you can learn Japanese, learning French should be a piece of cake.· Don't worry about the exam. It'll be a cinch!be a cinch to learn/drive/use etc · My new car's a cinch to drive, compared to the old one.
British informal /be a snap/a breeze American informal · "You passed your driving test?'' "Yes -- it was a doddle!''· Managing a team of businessmen is a snap compared to a team of twelve-year-olds.a doddle/snap/breeze to do something · It's a snap to make this sauce if you have a few basic ingredients in the cupboard.
use this when saying that something is surprisingly easy for someone to do, or that something is very easy compared to something else: · Persuading people to give away their money is child's play when you know how.· Life today is child's play compared to how it was 100 years ago.
spoken say this when it is easy for you to do something, even though other people think it is difficult: · "Oh, great! You've fixed the washing machine." "Yeah, there was nothing to it, really."
use this to say that something is so easy that everyone could do it: · Anyone can learn to cook.· I don't know why you think you're so clever -- anyone can do that.· Politicians insist that there are plenty of jobs and that anyone can get one if they really try.
someone who is a pushover is very easy to defeat, persuade etc: · The kids all think their new English teacher's a real pushover.be no pushover (=not be easy to defeat, persuade etc): · Colonel Moore was no pushover. He wouldn't let anyone tell him what to do.
spoken extremely easy: · Sally smiled to herself. It was easy to attract men. Like taking candy from a baby.
an easy job or way of life · He has lived an easy life in college for the last few years.· Being a teacher isn't easy.have it easy (=have a very easy life) · Lawyers really have it easy -- lots of money for very little work.
informal very easy - use this especially when you think that someone has an extremely easy job or life and you are jealous of them or do not approve of them: · Eventually he got a cushy job as a newspaper correspondent in Madrid.· Being a stewardess is not a cushy lifestyle - it's very hard work.a cushy number British (=a cushy job or way of life): · What a cushy number, living rent-free in return for taking the dog out once a day!
to not have to make much effort in your job or school work because the work is easy for you to do: · If you feel that you've been coasting in your job, perhaps it's time for a change.coast along: · Laura was a bright kid and she could coast along at school without too much effort.
when someone can do something easily · A burglar could easily climb in through that window.· When I went to college, I made friends very easily.easily recognized/damaged/done etc (=when something can be recognized, damaged etc easily) · These plates are easily damaged, so please be careful with them.· Lizzie and Jane are so alike that they're easily mistaken for each other.
something that is effortless is done in a way that makes it seem very easy, although in fact it is very skilful: · The way she dances makes it seem so effortless.· Other musicians were amazed by Parker's effortless improvisational skill.
if something comes naturally to you, you seem to have a natural ability to do it, so that you can do it well without having to try hard: · Her family are all actors, so it probably comes naturally.come naturally to: · Speaking in public seems to come quite naturally to her.· Looking after babies doesn't come naturally to all new mothers.
to be able to do something very easily, especially because you have done it so many times before: · He's a really good mechanic -- he could change a tyre standing on his head.· Don't worry. I've driven to the Bronx so many times, I could do it standing on my head.
to think that something is a very easy and normal thing to do, although most people think it is difficult and unusual: · Emily thinks nothing of preparing a meal for twenty people.· Before cars were invented, people thought nothing of walking six miles to work.
informal to win or succeed in something easily: · McKenzie breezed the first three rounds of the tournament.· She's likely to breeze through this game, but the next might not be so easy.
the easiest way to do something · The easiest way of making money is to get other people to do it for you.do things the easy way · As a student, Louise was lazy, and always did things the easy way.take the easy way out (=avoid the difficult or best way by doing something that is easier) · I decided to take the easy way out and take a different class.
also soft option British if someone takes the easy option they choose to do the easiest thing they can, rather than something that is better but more difficult, because they are lazy: take the easy/soft option: · Instead of working to keep their marriages, more and more people are taking the easy option and getting divorced.be an easy/soft option: · Some people think that studying languages instead of sciences is a soft option.
to make something easier for someone to do · The new system will make buying and selling houses much easier.make it easier for somebody to do something · Health authorities want to make it easier for patients to be treated at home.make things/life easier · We've got a new secretary starting tomorrow -- that should make things easier.· It would make life a lot easier if there was a reliable train service.
to make something easier to understand, by removing the parts that cause difficulty or problems: · The whole university admissions procedure has been simplified.
formal to make it easier for a process to happen or for someone to do something: · Both centers are electronically linked to facilitate communication.· Legislation is urgently needed to facilitate police counterterrorist operations.
to make it easier for someone to do something or for something to happen, by dealing with any problem that might prevent it: · Our representatives will be waiting for you to arrive, and ready to help smooth the way.smooth the way for: · It is hoped that the negotiations will smooth the way for an agreement later this year.
to make it easier for a process to happen or move forward, especially by officially changing something that has previously been making it difficult: · The help of UN experts eased the transition to independence.· We need to get rid of Africa's long-term debt burden, and ease trade and commerce.
to make it too easy for someone to do something by giving them too much information and help, so that they do not learn for themselves: · Don't spoonfeed him -- he's got to learn how to do things for himself!· Spoonfeeding students is never a good idea -- they always fail when it comes to exams.
difficult to do or understand · That's a good question, but it's a difficult one to answer.difficult for · The reading exercise was very difficult for most of the children.difficult to see/hear/describe etc · The insects are so small that they are difficult to see without using a microscope.it is difficult (for somebody) to do something · It's very difficult to find people who are willing to do the job.find it difficult to do something · Until now, patients often found it difficult to get information about their rights. make it difficult for somebody to do something · My mother's illness makes it difficult for her to walk.
not easy to do or understand. Hard is less formal than difficult: · I thought the exam was really hard.· The hardest thing about moving to a new place was meeting new people.it is hard (for somebody) to do something: · It's hard to see the stage from here.· It was hard for me to understand her - her accent was very strong.find it hard to do something: · I find it hard to believe that he didn't know the gun was loaded.
very difficult to do or deal with - use this about jobs, decisions, questions, or problems: · The judge asked the lawyers on both sides some very tough questions.· The governor is trying to show voters that he's able to deal with the toughest issues facing Ohio today.
spoken use this about something difficult you have been asked to do, especially when you do not think it is likely you will be able to do it: · "Can you finish the work by Friday?'' "Sounds like a tall order to me, but I'll see what I can do.''
spoken use this to tell someone that something is much more difficult than they think it is: · Talking calmly to a screaming child sounds like a good idea, but any parent will tell you it's easier said than done.
: not the easiest...to do spoken use this to say that it is difficult to do something: · I'll drive you there -- it's not the easiest place to get to if you don't have a car.· I tried to explain it to him, but he's not the easiest person to talk to.
use this to say that something is difficult to do or make: · Finding a solution to the present crisis in the region is no easy task.not an easy task/job/decision: · The roads are often dangerous, and getting food to the villages has not been an easy task.
spoken something that is difficult and annoying to do or deal with: · It was a pain - I had to read more than 200 articles - but I learned a lot from it.· Getting across town at rush hour is a real pain in the neck.
when you do not care because you will be happy whatever happens British /don't care American to not care because you will be happy with whatever happens or with whatever someone decides: · "What would you like to do tonight?" "I don't mind. You decide."· "Do you want white bread or wheat?" "I don't care. Either one is fine."don't mind where/what/how etc: · Honestly, I don't mind whether Linda comes with us or not.· They won't care if we're a few minutes late.
especially British, spoken to not care what happens or what is decided, especially when someone has asked you what you would prefer: · "Do you want to sit in the front seat or the back?'' "I'm not fussy.''be not fussy where/what/which etc: · I'm not fussy where I stay, as long as it's cheap.be not fussy about: · She's not fussy about what kind of car she drives.· He's not very fussy about his appearance, is he?
spoken say this when you do not mind what happens because it does not affect you or cause you any problems: · You can come on Thursday or Friday -- it makes no difference to me.· We can go out to eat if you want - it's all the same to me.· Mamet says it makes no difference to him what a movie costs, as long as it's a good movie.
spoken informal say this when someone asks you which one of two things you would prefer, and you want to tell them that you do not mind what is decided: · "Do you want to watch the news or the late night film?'' "I'm easy.''
spoken say this when you do not care what someone else does because it does not affect you in any way: · It's no skin off our nose if they don't want to come along.· If my sister wants to throw her money away, then fine. It's no skin off my nose.
spoken say this when someone has told you what they are going to do, and even though you do not think it is a good idea, you do not care whether they do it or not: · "I think I'll just stay home tonight." "Suit yourself."· "Do you mind if I sit here?'' "Suit yourself,'' she said, without looking up.
behaving in a friendly way easy to talk to, and ready to behave like a friend towards people you have not met before: · Ella was very friendly, and I liked her immediately.· The hotel staff were very friendly and helpful.friendly to/towards: · One surprise was how friendly everyone was to us on our travels.
someone who is nice is friendly and very easy to like: · We met some really nice people at the party - friends of my sister.nice to: · All Brad's friends were very nice to me, but I was too shy to join in their chat.
British /easy to get along with American friendly, relaxed, and not the type of person who causes unnecessary problems or arguments: · What's he like? Is he easy to get on with?· As a director, I'm always looking for good actors, but it's a bonus if they are easy to get along with too.
friendly and relaxed, and not easily annoyed or upset: · I feel lucky to have such an easygoing and affectionate child.· Stein's easygoing manner is only one of the reasons he will be missed when he retires.
someone who is warm is very friendly in a sincere way, and seems to really care about other people: · She's a warm, caring person, and she'll make a wonderful nurse.· He welcomed us with a warm smile.
someone who is approachable is friendly and easy to talk to, even though they are in a more important position than you: · If you have any problems, the head teacher is very approachable· Olivia has a reputation as an easygoing, approachable executive who always has lunch with her employees.
behaving in a way that shows you are glad to have other people visiting your home or your country, and doing things to make them feel relaxed and happy there: · He stood at the door with a welcoming smile.· Restaurant and hotel prices in the area are reasonable, and the townspeople are welcoming.
someone who is hospitable is friendly and generous to you when you visit their home or their country: · Most of the people I met in Laos were very hospitable and kind.
formal someone who is affable , especially a man, is polite, friendly, and cheerful: · She married an affable, middle-aged businessman.· Brown was affable and sympathetic, but also firm and decisive in dealing with the problems presented to him.
formal friendly and pleasant, and not easily annoyed or worried: · The waiter was an amiable young man.· Cohen is soft-spoken and amiable.
formal friendly, often laughing and making jokes, and enjoyable to be with: · Dr Saito has a warm, genial manner.· Our hosts were genial and friendly, and our stay was a very pleasant one.
very easy to notice or understand something that is obvious is very easy to notice or understand: · There is an obvious connection between the two murders.· "Why is she leaving?" "Well, it's obvious, isn't it?"it is obvious that: · It's obvious that something is wrong.· It was obvious from the start that my parents disliked Nancy.it is obvious to somebody: · It should be obvious to everyone that we need to make some changes.for obvious reasons (=when the reasons are so obvious that you do not need to say what they are): · For obvious reasons, we've had to cancel tonight's performance.
if it is clear that something is true, it is easy to notice that it is true and you feel sure about it and have no doubts: it is clear that: · It was clear that Lesley was very upset by what had happened.it is clear to somebody: · It was clear to me that my father was dying.it becomes clear: · It soon became clear that there were not enough police officers to deal with the situation.· It became clear after talking to him that Andrew wasn't going to cooperate.clear evidence/example/sign etc: · There is clear evidence that certain diets reduce your chances of getting cancer.· clear signs of an economic recovery
use this to emphasize that it is easy to see that something is true: · We're obviously going to need more help.· Clearly, the situation is more complicated than we first thought.· The children were clearly upset.· Obviously, this guy's a complete fraud.· The language of the article clearly reveals the author's bias.
to know that something must be true because you can see signs that show this: can tell (that): · I can tell that Mark isn't happy here.· Even though it was dark, she could tell it was him.can tell if: · I can't tell if this is dirty or not. Can you?can tell by: · I could tell by the way she walked that her knee was still bothering her.
if it is easy to see that something is true, it is very easy for anyone to notice or understand that fact: it is easy to see (that): · It's easy to see that he isn't well.· It was easy to see that Minna was embarrassed by her father's behaviour.it is easy to see how/why/what: · It's easy to see why this place is so popular.
a noticeable difference, change, improvement etc is easy to notice: noticeable change: · The most noticeable change was in my younger brother, who had grown quite a bit and was now a third-grader.noticeable improvement: · There has been a noticeable improvement in Jeremy's behaviour lately.barely/hardly/scarcely noticeable (=almost not noticeable): · Stop worrying about your pimples; they're barely noticeable.it is noticeable that: · It was quite noticeable that everyone had been invited except for Gail.
formal a perceptible difference, change, improvement etc can be noticed even though it is small: · The influence of Sartre is perceptible in Hogan's novel.perceptible change: · According to Reynolds, there has been a slight but perceptible change in public attitude lately.barely/scarcely/hardly perceptible (=almost not perceptible): · His lips curved in a barely perceptible smile.· When he asked if she wanted something to eat, she gave a barely perceptible nod.
a distinct or definite possibility, feeling, quality etc is noticeable and cannot be ignored: distinct/definite possibility: · A civil war is a distinct possibility.· Food shortages are so severe that mass starvation is a definite possibility.distinct advantage: · Trigg's height should give him a distinct advantage in his match against Robinson.distinct impression: · I had the distinct impression that Rachel was displeased.
obvious - used formally or in literature: · Even at the age of eight his musical talent was apparent.for no apparent reason (=without a clear reason): · Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, he turned his back and walked away.it is evident (from something) that: · From the look on Jill's face, it was evident that the news came as a complete shock.it became apparent/evident that: · It became evident that Lena wasn't going to be able to handle the project on her own.· After a few months, it became apparent that Vicky did not have a genuine interest in her job.
something or someone that is conspicuous is very easy to notice, because they are different from everything or everyone else around them: · Cuzco's few tourists are conspicuous as they explore the old cobbled streets.· Downtown business owners say they want the city's homeless shelter moved to a less conspicuous location.
easy to understand · The instructions are easy to follow.· On cards are five easy to follow recipes for you to cut out and keep.· We try to write it in language that is easy to understand.
instructions, explanations etc that are clear are explained in easy language or stages and are therefore easy to understand: · Most of the 'help' messages you get on computers aren't at all clear to ordinary home users.· Thanks for your directions to the apartment - they were really clear and we had no problems finding it.· Perhaps I didn't make myself clear - there won't be a penny of extra money for this project.
something that is comprehensible is easy to understand because it does not contain any complicated information and is expressed in very clear language: · Visual aids can make lessons much more interesting and comprehensible.· Each entry in the guide is brief and immediately comprehensible.comprehensible to: · The music was experimental, and not comprehensible to the average concert-goer.
something that is intelligible , such as a subject you study or a piece of writing or speech, is fairly easy to understand: · Her English was strongly accented but quite intelligible.intelligible to: · It is sometimes difficult to discuss medical issues in a way that is intelligible to ordinary people.
books, films, information etc that are accessible are written or made in a way that is easy to understand even though they may concern subjects that are complicated: · Philip Glass has produced something very rare -- an accessible modern opera.· I don't find James Joyce's writing very accessible.accessible to: · He was specifically asked to write a play that would be accessible to the local community.
a piece of writing or speech that is coherent is easy to understand because it is clear and well-planned, so that all the parts fit well together: · I was so confused that I could not give a coherent answer.· Rescuers found Campbell, who was conscious and coherent.· History could be defined as a coherent account of an event.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
The software makes it easier to download music. Having you here does make things a lot easier for me. The station is within easy reach of (=close to) the town centre. The park is within easy walking distance (=close enough to walk to). On the whole, Dad has had an easy life. She had a nice easy day at home. You can have an easy time of it now that the kids have all left home. Why don’t we make life easy for ourselves and finish it tomorrow? I can leave the children with my mother with an easy mind. She is gentle and easy to be with. The soldiers on the streets are an easy target for terrorists. Tourists are easy prey for thieves. I just took the easy way out and gave him some cash.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a villa with easy access to the sea I feel a bit better now. Is it easy to clean? The new system is far better than the old one. There are a far greater number of women working in television than twenty years ago. She found the work very dull. Lots of women I know find him attractive. I found them quite easy to use. Hyperactive children find it difficult to concentrate. The plot is a little difficult to follow. It’s hard to guess his age because he dyes his hair. The use of computers has made it possible for more people to work from home. Henry’s room is much bigger than mine. These shoes are much more comfortable. I was surprised to see how much better she was looking. How much better life would be if we returned to the values of the past! The house seemed nice and tidy. There are easy pickings for thieves at these big outdoor concerts. She’s hard to please. Everything has to be perfect. Drug addicts are fairly easy to spot. Drop-down menus make the program very easy to use. We live within easy reach of (=close to) the shops.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
The software makes it easier to download music. Having you here does make things a lot easier for me. (=very easy)
The station is within easy reach of (=close to) the town centre. The park is within easy walking distance (=close enough to walk to). On the whole, Dad has had an easy life. She had a nice easy day at home. You can have an easy time of it now that the kids have all left home. Why don’t we make life easy for ourselves and finish it tomorrow? I can leave the children with my mother with an easy mind. She is gentle and easy to be with. The soldiers on the streets are an easy target for terrorists. Tourists are easy prey for thieves. I just took the easy way out and gave him some cash. a villa with easy access to the sea· There are a lot of problems and no simple answers.
I feel a bit better now. (=relaxed charm)· Hudson was full of easy charm and smiles.
(=easy or difficult to deal with)· Marcus was a very happy, easy child.
Is it easy to clean? (=near enough to walk to easily)· There are lots of restaurants within walking distance.
· It’s all too easy to exaggerate the importance of these rather minor factors.
The new system is far better than the old one. There are a far greater number of women working in television than twenty years ago. She found the work very dull. Lots of women I know find him attractive. I found them quite easy to use. Hyperactive children find it difficult to concentrate. The plot is a little difficult to follow. It’s hard to guess his age because he dyes his hair.· It’s easy to imagine how the change in the law caused a lot of confusion.
The use of computers has made it possible for more people to work from home. (=something that is easy to do)· Putting together the bookcases is a fairly simple matter.
· She looks like her sister, so it’s an easy mistake to make.
(=money that you earn easily)· For many, selling drugs seems like easy money.
(=without effort)· She swung her legs off the bed in one easy movement.
Henry’s room is much bigger than mine. These shoes are much more comfortable. I was surprised to see how much better she was looking. How much better life would be if we returned to the values of the past! The house seemed nice and tidy. (also a soft option British English) (=a choice which is not difficult, or which needs the least effort)· For most people, divorce is never an easy option.
(=used to say that something is not as important as some people think)· It is easy to overestimate the effect of prison on criminals.
· Deciding what you’re going to cook is the easy part.
There are easy pickings for thieves at these big outdoor concerts. She’s hard to please. Everything has to be perfect.· These questions should be easy for you.
· There is no easy solution to this problem.
Drug addicts are fairly easy to spot.· Some criminals now regard churches as easy targets.
something is no easy task (=something is difficult)· Recruiting experienced people is no easy task nowadays.
· Measures to slow down traffic on the main street have actually made things worse.
Drop-down menus make the program very easy to use.· Arsenal expected an easy victory.
(=near enough to be able to walk to) There are plenty of bars and restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.· From here it is an easy walk to the summit.
· Here’s an easy way to cut up a mango.
· The Australian appeared to be heading for an easy win.
We live within easy reach of (=close to) the shops.· Up to this stage it will have been fairly easy for them to break off their activities should the occasion demand it.· It was a beautiful theory, and it was fairly easy to understand.· If the ritual was completed, the adventurers still alive have it fairly easy.· Fortunately, the elements are fairly easy to replace.· Cultivation is apparently fairly easy and details of where to get the plants are available.· They were fairly easy to move through and were cooler than surrounding areas.· Fortunately, most are still fairly easy to spot, and usually catch out only new users, but they will improve.· There were fan magazines that were fairly easy to deal with.
· All paths and tracks are well defined and mostly signposted; route-finding quite easy.· This was my favourite song as it was quite easy to sing and it had a stirring, catching rhythm.· One of them, Rhuad Sgeir, was quite easy to identify.· It's quite easy once you get the hang of it.· To plate, look for the instructions in your manual, it is quite easy, once you are threaded up.· So improving or updating an older model is quite easy.· Because of the comparative thinness of the jigsaw blade, it is quite easy to steer it round quite tight curves.
· In fact, it's relatively easy, provided there is a market.· A century ago, it was relatively easy to hide corruption.· This distinction may be relatively easy to make in memory for situations encountered when driving.· The United States has traditionally offered the poor relatively easy access to the middle class if they can find steady work.· There was plenty of room on the course and it was relatively easy to lengthen it enough to test the professionals.· Okra is relatively easy to grow given sufficient space.· In the 1950s teacher training furnished a relatively easy route to the secure status of superannuated salary earner.· The theory of semiconductor design is relatively easy to learn.
· This is not so easy to practise in the informal pool, for part of its charm is its tangled informality.· It is not so easy to apply this reasoning to the case of General Electric or General Motors.· Even so, it was never again to be so easy.· It would be so easy to go soft on them.· However, identifying a breach of the rule may not be so easy.· Why is it so easy to spend your cash when it can take so long to earn?· It was all so easy, and so worthwhile.· She gloated inwardly at the memory. So easy!
· For the strong propaganda machinery it was almost too easy to transform what had once been marginal into the nearly official.· It's too easy, as a divorced man living away from your children, to buy into self-pity.· It is all too easy to do this, especially if we know no other ways of praying than our own.· It was too easy an assumption.· It's all been a bit too easy on the ear and eye.· On the whole, her father had had a very easy life of it, too easy.· And if playing is too easy, it might take all the fun out of it.
· Take careful note of the potential size - it is very easy to go wrong with these.· The recipe is very easy to prepare, but it does take about 2 hours to cook.· It's very easy to organise some investigative work by children on school meals provision.· This is of course very easy since what the spreadsheet has stored in cells C and D is a time serial number.· In the air, you will find all the modern machines very easy to fly but most are lighter on the controls.· Comments ranged from tasteless, bland and bitter to very easy to drink.· Breath Singers are usually very easy to speechread.· It is visible with the naked eye, and its position close to Eta and Mu makes it very easy to locate.
NOUN· Rocky terrain with relatively easy access is the shore to look for.· That closeness has been all the greater because of the sea-routes that have made for easy access.· For the most part sited high above the sea, it is climbable at all times and offers easy access.· The trolley also passes several sprawling condominium complexes, giving thousands of people easy access to public transit.· The sheltered housing is close to local amenities to allow residents easy access to shops and other facilities.· There is a regular seminar programme, and easy access to professional bodies and institutions concerned with formal and non-formal education.· Three out of five people in the Third World have no easy access to clean water.· The Control Center provides a relatively easy access point to dBase.
· Some materials still resist easy answers - gold is an example.· Because the move to management requires transformation, though, no easy answers or quick fixes are provided.· No easy answers came and there were many apparent paradoxes.· I found no easy answer from within myself.· Magona's reexamination of a highly contentious political event leaves no easy answers.· So much for an easy answer.· It's time to ask questions that don't have easy answers.· But suddenly we find ourselves acknowledging that there are no easy answers to the dilemmas Christians face.
· His forefathers had built the mills, and it hadn't been a particularly easy life.· It was not an easy life.· I agree that it's not a particularly easy life for most people to support.· From boyhood he disdained an easy life.· Like Polonius, Amis passed on his secrets to an easy life.· Nockerd Sockett had not had an easy life.· I am all in favour of an easy life for horse and rider wherever possible.
· Keeping track of attendance is no easy matter for schools.· It is not an easy matter to quantify the economic role of government.· The plaintiff's solicitor will have to go on affidavit about that, which is not an easy matter.· Funding will depend on the sale of extraneous plots for other developments, not an easy matter in the current climate.· Capital accumulation is a relatively easy matter for the self-employed but is almost impossible for the professional manager to achieve out of income.· Judging the competition has taken quite some time and was no easy matter.· It was an easy matter to buy my way on to the same flight.· Capturing the image Photographs, however, are not such an easy matter.
· The easy money regime focused attention on monetary policy and contributed to the significance accorded to the money supply in later years.· In discussing the easy money prescription we have chosen a fairly extreme version of it, in part to get students excited.· Disadvantages: Some part-timers regard Koi dealing as a way of making easy money.· People will tell you you can make easy money.· The reason too much easy money and not enough dedication and genuine love for one's chosen work.· Instead, he is expected to surrender one-third of the Championship and opt for some easy money.· Owing to legal changes, young barristers can no longer earn easy money on undefended divorces, which are now done by solicitors.· The opening years of the 1970s were a period of easy money.
· His refusal to take the easy option is admirable.· In a situation of this sort ignorance is often the easy option.· But their other argument is possibly more persuasive: it's that farm saving is not an easy option.· It is, though, an easy option for simple Web pages.· Well, he certainly achieved it but remember, winning championships is the easy option.· Promising extra money, though welcome in itself, is the easy option.· Trotting is very pleasant, but it's not an easy option.· They have no dislike of getting their feet wet, while preferring to stay dry where the easy option exists.
· Getting on to Switchboard was the easy part.· And that was the easy part.· The easy part was the system itself.· This is the easy part, proving difficult only for those with unsteady hands, poor vision or failure to comprehend.· But knowing right from wrong is the easy part.· The easy part is to say that he was bad, or to say how bad he was.
· Like a wolf pack scenting easy prey, they dismounted and spread out.· Men prowled the motel like packs of wolves searching out easy prey.· More rarely, I watched them diving in the sea for sea urchins or other easy prey.· We were barely moving through the water, an easy prey.· The dams also render the animals easy prey for hunters and trap them when the water is drained for irrigation.· Three groups are easy prey to the underclass's recruiting sergeant.· It is easy prey - I've caught them myself.· As a result, his party may look battered, easy prey for the Democrats.
· Also within easy reach of many places of interest, including the new International Convention Centre.· All are within easy reach of Gubbio which is among the best restored medieval towns in Umbria.· A short climb from the tarn leads to the ridge wall, the summit then being within easy reach on the left.· But the gannets of Bempton Cliffs are within easy reach of all.· The latter were concentrated quite markedly in Stratford and Forest Gate within easy reach of the main railway line into the city.
· Even if she manages to get through her first probationary year, life is not an easy ride for full members either.· Sweeping views of the South Bay, incredible birdwatching, and an easy ride along a stream.· They remind us that we are not called to an easy ride over the waves during our lifetime.· Gazza makes his Lazio debut against his old club and his Tottenham pals aren't going to give him an easy ride.· Holly's easy ride was over.· It has not been an easy ride, however.· Unlike the United States secretary of state, Colin Powell, last month, the president was given an exceptionally easy ride.
· But to the criminal she's was just an easy target.· It was a natural and easy target for newspapers.· Such an organization would have been an easy target for Labour's disciplinarians.· That makes them easy targets for mining industry recruiters.· You can see so little as you blunder on that you are an easy target for any animal seeking fresh meat.· So we opt for cheap grace, and easy targets, instead.· However, the uniformed, sixteen-legged crocodile was an easy target for ridicule.· Most outsiders will point to coach Barry Switzer, who is an easy target.
· But it is no easy task.· The library user who looks for books of art criticism is not necessarily going to have an easy task.· It was not an easy task.· Evaluating this set of foreign policies is no easy task.· To forge peace and order into society is not an easy task of and for a people or a nation.· Convincing shopkeepers and local firms that donating prizes is a very inexpensive form of advertising is usually a relatively easy task.· In this brief look backwards, history has an easy task.
· That's always a very easy thing to do on the periphery.· This is not an easy thing to do creatively, especially while dealing with demographics.· A fire would always be an easy thing from which a superhuman creature like the monster could escape.· Screenwriting is a very easy thing for me to do.· This is obviously not always an easy thing to do, especially if we are in the darkness of suffering.· This is by no means an easy thing to accomplish; nothing of real esoteric value ever is easy to attain.· It's not an easy thing to do...· That's not an easy thing.
· Haynes then steered the tourists to an easy victory with more than 11 overs to spare.· Ford gratefully accepts, takes a sip and continues to watch as his team heads for an easy victory.· The Ladies race produced another easy victory for Percival.· The lopsided final score may suggest an easy victory.· The Chargers dominated the Raiders on both sides of the line, walking away with a surprisingly easy victory.· Left: new Honda V12 performed faultlessly for Senna to score easy victory.· Still others cruised to easy victory, including 93-year-old Strom Thurmond, R-S.
· He was saying, I am going to kick a field goal; no sir, he took the easy way.· But she wanted a quick, easy way to determine which states needed the money the most.· This is an easy way of referencing for authors, but a bit of a nuisance for readers.· College is simply an easy way for employers to identify workers with strong basic skills.· Deependable Products now offer an easy way to remove and prevent induced voltages - the Nega-volt.· But there are no easy ways of determining the actual role of women in decision making in the use of birth control.· But these days, if it looks as if it's going to be nasty, I take the easy way out.· Standing orders and direct debits - the easy way to pay gas, electricity and other bills and expenses.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► it’s/that’s easy for you to sayPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► somebody can breathe easy/easily► it’s as easy as falling off a log► somebody can sleep easy
- The thought of easy money draws many people to drug dealing.
- Disadvantages: Some part-timers regard Koi dealing as a way of making easy money.
- In discussing the easy money prescription we have chosen a fairly extreme version of it, in part to get students excited.
- Instead, he is expected to surrender one-third of the Championship and opt for some easy money.
- Owing to legal changes, young barristers can no longer earn easy money on undefended divorces, which are now done by solicitors.
- People will tell you you can make easy money.
- Sincere spirit and moral authority count, not quick and easy money.
- The easy money regime focused attention on monetary policy and contributed to the significance accorded to the money supply in later years.
- The reason too much easy money and not enough dedication and genuine love for one's chosen work.
- I like jazz because it's usually easy on the ear.
- Above all, it should be as physically comfortable and relaxing as it is easy on the eye.
- And frankly, she's pretty easy on the eyes, too.
- Garda Garda is a charming old village that is very easy on the eye.
- It's all been a bit too easy on the ear and eye.
- It was vital that they should be prompt and professional as well as easy on the eye.
- Ken Russell's production is certainly easy on the eye, but fans are expecting a bit more than a well-turned ankle.
- The layout and print is easy on the eye and the revision passages for dictation becomes increasingly difficult as the book progresses.
- This exhibit, Without Sanctuary, is not easy on the eyes.
- As usual, there are no easy answers to explain human behavior.
- But suddenly we find ourselves acknowledging that there are no easy answers to the dilemmas Christians face.
- So there are no easy answers.
- There are no easy answers to this problem.
- "Do you want to stop at the mall now or on the way home?" "I'm easy."
- "Do you want to watch the news or the late night film?'' "I'm easy.''
- By the time this Clinton-Dole thing is over, you and I could be living on Easy Street.
- Harvey maintains a continual easy-reading knowingness for his audience, an intimacy on easy terms with everything he talks about.
- He orders eggs over easy, bacon and sliced tomatoes.
- My father died of eggs-three eggs over easy every day.
- Sadly, morals and behaviour ashore had deteriorated too with more drunks and ladies of easy virtue in evidence.
- Too many people take the easy way out of financial trouble by declaring bankruptcy.
- But these days, if it looks as if it's going to be nasty, I take the easy way out.
- Fishwick, however, does not take the easy way out.
- Not surprisingly they take the easy way out when food is put out for them each day.
- This healthy, realistic fear helps the organization resist the temptation to take the easy way out of a problematic situation.
- She hasn't had an easy time of it since Jack left.
- Hu did not have an easy time of it at first.
- He offsets Roberts' operatic evil with a performance that commands all the more notice for its minimalism.
- His job was made all the more easier by drivers who hadn't bothered to take measures to stop people like him.
- If there is some meat left on the bones, all the better.
- It makes it all the more opportune.
- Superb defence by Karpov, all the more praiseworthy in that he was now in desperate time trouble.
- The dispute was all the more bitter because a prize was at stake.
- The inadequacy and treachery of the old leaderships of the working class have made the need all the more imperative.
- Weather experts say it was a relatively dry winter which makes the water recovery all the more remarkable.
- a free and easy lifestyle
- A free and easy smile, but lop-sided because her face was still puffy from Garty's beating.
- Cousin Noreen was arriving on Sunday and life wasn't going to be so free and easy after that.
- Gone was the free and easy time of three meals a day and as many hot drinks as we liked.
- In this free and easy style, I accustomed myself to the rhythms of school life.
- It was as if they were indeed from another world: a happy world, a free and easy world.
- Robyn remembered his free and easy hand as he had poured her wine.
- The time they shared became special now, where before they had been free and easy.
- Their relationship is not free and easy but at least Red is no longer looking daggers at her.
- I don't deny it was a good lay.
- But this arbitrary division of the country has not made life easier for either the North or the South.
- Having to adopt the fast-track method made life difficult for all three.
- Jim was uninterested in learning the kind of ecclesial footwork that would have made life easier for himself and his parish.
- Latecomers, however, do make life difficult - and unnecessarily expensive.
- The lack of economic statistics has made life difficult for economists and money managers for the past few weeks.
- There's no greater pleasure than handing over money to a local supplier who helps make life easier.
- To make life easier in the future, will you be publishing an index?
- With the advent of electrics, journey times were to be halves, as well as making life easier for locomotive crews.
- We have put together a few of the most popular itineraries to help make your choice that little bit easier.
- If her own mind could play tricks like that, she'd be easy meat for any of those giant prawns.
- If we think they are easy meat we will end up with egg on our faces.
- Quakers were easy meat at home.
- Unprotected by a shell, they are easy meat for insect larvae and flatworms.
- With most of the control surfaces shot away, they were easy meat for a Messerschmitt.
- Instead of working to keep their marriages, more and more people are taking the easy option and getting divorced.
- Some people think that studying languages instead of sciences is a soft option.
- But their other argument is possibly more persuasive: it's that farm saving is not an easy option.
- His refusal to take the easy option is admirable.
- In a situation of this sort ignorance is often the easy option.
- It is, though, an easy option for simple Web pages.
- Promising extra money, though welcome in itself, is the easy option.
- They have no dislike of getting their feet wet, while preferring to stay dry where the easy option exists.
- Trotting is very pleasant, but it's not an easy option.
- Well, he certainly achieved it but remember, winning championships is the easy option.
- It is easy prey - I've caught them myself.
- Like a wolf pack scenting easy prey, they dismounted and spread out.
- Men prowled the motel like packs of wolves searching out easy prey.
- More rarely, I watched them diving in the sea for sea urchins or other easy prey.
- The dams also render the animals easy prey for hunters and trap them when the water is drained for irrigation.
- Then, as the softies were driven extinct, Harrington followed them, having no easy prey left.
- Three groups are easy prey to the underclass's recruiting sergeant.
- We were barely moving through the water, an easy prey.
- Also within easy reach of many places of interest, including the new International Convention Centre.
- It was so away from it all yet within easy reach of the city.
- None of the androids flew within reach of the weapon.
- That victory put him within reach of the top ten.
- The latter were concentrated quite markedly in Stratford and Forest Gate within easy reach of the main railway line into the city.
- The science-room windows were within easy reach of the school keeper's shammy.
- Weldon is within easy reach of major towns like Leicester, Peterborough and Northampton.
- Craig Chalmers, however, can rest easy.
- He also seems to want to be the Nineties Coco Chanel, so street fashion bods can rest easy.
- He can rest easy on that matter.
- No side can rest easy with such a slender lead.
- Some local retailer would rest easy in his bed that night.
- Surely, the letter said with a surprising burst of bitterness, Eileen Ryan would rest easy in her grave at last.
- Wall Street and the bond markets can rest easy.
- When I have a shoal of feeding bream in the swim I can not rest easy.
- Any member on a committee to which Karl Barth belonged had a rough ride.
- But history says Bill Clinton may be in for a rough ride.
- Even after the Renaissance and the rebirth of learning had reached these shores ears were still having a rough ride.
- He cheered Tory backbenchers, but they predicted that the Chancellor could also face a rough ride unless the plan works.
- Well, it's turned out not so badly, he thought, although it's been a rough ride.
- And he knew I was a soft touch, that I did most of the housework so he could be free.
- Artisans needed more than just fertile imaginations and a soft touch with a trowel to bring their work to life.
- Cool for Cats at Stennis Head - a soft touch E15b.
- Leeds are a soft touch when it comes to transfers.
- Middlesbrough showed a resilience that emphasised they are no longer a soft touch on their travels.
- My client was a soft touch.
- Next to it goes a soft touch 6a, Cocoluche, which has an easily avoidable 6b section.
- Terry was such a soft touch.
WORD FAMILYnouneaseuneaseeasinessuneasinessadverbeasilyuneasilyeasyadjectiveeasyuneasyverbease
1not difficult not difficult to do, and not needing much effort OPP difficult, hard: The test was easy. Finishing the task will not be easy. There must be an easier way to do that.easy to do something It’s a great car, and very easy to drive. instructions that are easy to follow It would have been easy for the team to lose the game.make it easier (to do something) The software makes it easier to download music. Having you here does make things a lot easier for me.as easy as pie/ABC/falling off a log (=very easy) The station is within easy reach of (=close to) the town centre. The park is within easy walking distance (=close enough to walk to).2comfortable comfortable or relaxed, and without problems OPP hard: On the whole, Dad has had an easy life.easy day/week etc She had a nice easy day at home. You can have an easy time of it now that the kids have all left home. Why don’t we make life easy for ourselves and finish it tomorrow?3not worried not feeling worried or anxious OPP uneasy: We talk more openly when we feel easy and relaxed. I can leave the children with my mother with an easy mind.4friendly friendly and pleasant with other people: She is gentle and easy to be with.5easily attacked able to be hunted or attacked without difficulty: The soldiers on the streets are an easy target for terrorists. Tourists are easy prey for thieves.6take the easy way out to end a situation in a way that seems easy, but is not the best or most sensible way: I just took the easy way out and gave him some cash.7have an easy time (of it) to have no problems or difficulties: She’s not been having an easy time of it financially.8easy money money that you do not have to work hard to get: We can buy them for $10 and sell them for $25 – easy money.9easy on the eye/ear pleasant to look at or listen to: Soft colours are easy on the eye.10it’s/that’s easy for you to say spoken used when someone has given you some advice that would be difficult for you to follow11there are no easy answers used when saying that it is difficult to find a good way of dealing with a problem12I’m easy spoken used to say that you do not mind what choice is made: ‘What would you like to do now?’ ‘I don’t know, I’m easy.’13be (living) on easy street especially American English informal to be in a situation in which you have plenty of money: If I get this new job, we’ll be living on easy street.14on easy terms if you buy something on easy terms, you pay for it with several small payments instead of paying the whole amount at once: New settlers in the west could buy land on relatively easy terms.15eggs over easy American English eggs cooked on a hot surface and turned over quickly before serving16woman/lady/girl of easy virtue old-fashioned a woman who has sex with a lot of men17sex informal someone, especially a woman, who is easy has a lot of sexual partners → see also ease1, easilyTHESAURUSeasy not difficult to do, and not needing much effort: · an easy task· The house was easy to find.simple easy and not complicated – used about things such as instructions and explanations, or about machines and systems: · The system is relatively simple to operate.· a simple recipe for chocolate cakestraightforward easy to understand or do, and unlikely to cause you any problems: · a straightforward explanation· The calculation is fairly straightforward.user-friendly easy to use – used especially about computers or written information about how to do something: · Their website is very user-friendly.· a user-friendly guide to owning a dogundemanding easy because it does not take a lot of effort: · It was an undemanding role for someone of his experience.cushy /ˈkʊʃi/ informal a cushy job is easy to do and needs very little effort – often used when you are envious of the person who has it: · It’s a pretty cushy job – all she has to do is drive a nice car around.· a cushy number (=a very easy job)mindless so easy that you can do it without thinking – used especially when it makes you feel bored: · mindless taskspainless without any difficulties or problems – used especially when you expected something to be much worse: · Finding the carhire place at the airport was relatively painless.· Thankfully, there's a wide selection of search tools to make the task relatively painless.be plain sailing British English, be smooth sailing American English to be easy and with no problems that you have to deal with: · Things should be plain sailing from now on.informal phrases meaning very easybe a piece of cake informal to be very easy to do, especially compared to doing something else: · This test was a piece of cake compared to the last one.be child’s play informal to be surprisingly easy, or much easier than something else which is very difficult or dangerous: · Getting people’s credit card details is child’s play when you know how to do it.· Climbing in England is child’s play compared to climbing in the Himalayas.be a breeze informal (also be a doddle British English) to be very easy to do: · The software is a doddle to use.· The check-in process was a breeze.it’s not rocket science informal used when saying that something is very easy to do or understand, and you do not need to be intelligent to do it: · Making your PC run faster isn’t exactly rocket science.easy1 adjectiveeasy2 adverb
easyeasy2 ●●● S2 adverb Longman Language Activatoreasy to do, use, or understand
not difficult to do, use, or understand: · The questions were really easy.· It's an easy journey - we just drive to the station, then take the direct train to Paris.· Our new computer system should make the work a lot easier.easy to read/use/learn etc: · All the instructions are in large print to make them easy to read.it is easy to do something: · It is easy to see why she didn't marry him.easy for somebody to do something: · Was it easy for you to find a job?find something easy/find it easy to do something: · Susan's always found school work easy.· He doesn't find it easy to talk about his personal feelings.
easy not hard is more informal than not difficult: · "Did you make this pizza yourself?" "Yes, it's not difficult."it's not difficult to do something: · It's not difficult to see why she's unhappy all the time.· The reason for the problem is not hard to find.
easy to understand or do because it is not complicated - use this about things like explanations or instructions, or about machines or systems: · She drew us a simple map so that we wouldn't get lost.· I like this recipe because it's so simple.be simple to use/make/prepare etc: · The new photocopier is much simpler to use than the one we had before.
easy to understand and easy to do, so someone should not have any problems - use this especially about a method or process: · It is very straightforward - you just type the file name, then press 'Enter'.· There's a straightforward calculation for working out how much tax you have to pay.
spoken easy to use or understand - use this especially about computers or written information: · We are trying to develop software that is more user-friendly.· The booklet is intended to be a user-friendly guide to pension schemes.
to be very easy to do spoken informal · If you can learn Japanese, learning French should be a piece of cake.· Don't worry about the exam. It'll be a cinch!be a cinch to learn/drive/use etc · My new car's a cinch to drive, compared to the old one.
British informal /be a snap/a breeze American informal · "You passed your driving test?'' "Yes -- it was a doddle!''· Managing a team of businessmen is a snap compared to a team of twelve-year-olds.a doddle/snap/breeze to do something · It's a snap to make this sauce if you have a few basic ingredients in the cupboard.
use this when saying that something is surprisingly easy for someone to do, or that something is very easy compared to something else: · Persuading people to give away their money is child's play when you know how.· Life today is child's play compared to how it was 100 years ago.
spoken say this when it is easy for you to do something, even though other people think it is difficult: · "Oh, great! You've fixed the washing machine." "Yeah, there was nothing to it, really."
use this to say that something is so easy that everyone could do it: · Anyone can learn to cook.· I don't know why you think you're so clever -- anyone can do that.· Politicians insist that there are plenty of jobs and that anyone can get one if they really try.
someone who is a pushover is very easy to defeat, persuade etc: · The kids all think their new English teacher's a real pushover.be no pushover (=not be easy to defeat, persuade etc): · Colonel Moore was no pushover. He wouldn't let anyone tell him what to do.
spoken extremely easy: · Sally smiled to herself. It was easy to attract men. Like taking candy from a baby.
an easy job or way of life · He has lived an easy life in college for the last few years.· Being a teacher isn't easy.have it easy (=have a very easy life) · Lawyers really have it easy -- lots of money for very little work.
informal very easy - use this especially when you think that someone has an extremely easy job or life and you are jealous of them or do not approve of them: · Eventually he got a cushy job as a newspaper correspondent in Madrid.· Being a stewardess is not a cushy lifestyle - it's very hard work.a cushy number British (=a cushy job or way of life): · What a cushy number, living rent-free in return for taking the dog out once a day!
to not have to make much effort in your job or school work because the work is easy for you to do: · If you feel that you've been coasting in your job, perhaps it's time for a change.coast along: · Laura was a bright kid and she could coast along at school without too much effort.
when someone can do something easily · A burglar could easily climb in through that window.· When I went to college, I made friends very easily.easily recognized/damaged/done etc (=when something can be recognized, damaged etc easily) · These plates are easily damaged, so please be careful with them.· Lizzie and Jane are so alike that they're easily mistaken for each other.
something that is effortless is done in a way that makes it seem very easy, although in fact it is very skilful: · The way she dances makes it seem so effortless.· Other musicians were amazed by Parker's effortless improvisational skill.
if something comes naturally to you, you seem to have a natural ability to do it, so that you can do it well without having to try hard: · Her family are all actors, so it probably comes naturally.come naturally to: · Speaking in public seems to come quite naturally to her.· Looking after babies doesn't come naturally to all new mothers.
to be able to do something very easily, especially because you have done it so many times before: · He's a really good mechanic -- he could change a tyre standing on his head.· Don't worry. I've driven to the Bronx so many times, I could do it standing on my head.
to think that something is a very easy and normal thing to do, although most people think it is difficult and unusual: · Emily thinks nothing of preparing a meal for twenty people.· Before cars were invented, people thought nothing of walking six miles to work.
informal to win or succeed in something easily: · McKenzie breezed the first three rounds of the tournament.· She's likely to breeze through this game, but the next might not be so easy.
the easiest way to do something · The easiest way of making money is to get other people to do it for you.do things the easy way · As a student, Louise was lazy, and always did things the easy way.take the easy way out (=avoid the difficult or best way by doing something that is easier) · I decided to take the easy way out and take a different class.
also soft option British if someone takes the easy option they choose to do the easiest thing they can, rather than something that is better but more difficult, because they are lazy: take the easy/soft option: · Instead of working to keep their marriages, more and more people are taking the easy option and getting divorced.be an easy/soft option: · Some people think that studying languages instead of sciences is a soft option.
to make something easier for someone to do · The new system will make buying and selling houses much easier.make it easier for somebody to do something · Health authorities want to make it easier for patients to be treated at home.make things/life easier · We've got a new secretary starting tomorrow -- that should make things easier.· It would make life a lot easier if there was a reliable train service.
to make something easier to understand, by removing the parts that cause difficulty or problems: · The whole university admissions procedure has been simplified.
formal to make it easier for a process to happen or for someone to do something: · Both centers are electronically linked to facilitate communication.· Legislation is urgently needed to facilitate police counterterrorist operations.
to make it easier for someone to do something or for something to happen, by dealing with any problem that might prevent it: · Our representatives will be waiting for you to arrive, and ready to help smooth the way.smooth the way for: · It is hoped that the negotiations will smooth the way for an agreement later this year.
to make it easier for a process to happen or move forward, especially by officially changing something that has previously been making it difficult: · The help of UN experts eased the transition to independence.· We need to get rid of Africa's long-term debt burden, and ease trade and commerce.
to make it too easy for someone to do something by giving them too much information and help, so that they do not learn for themselves: · Don't spoonfeed him -- he's got to learn how to do things for himself!· Spoonfeeding students is never a good idea -- they always fail when it comes to exams.
to relax to make yourself feel calmer, more comfortable, and less worried, by resting or doing something enjoyable: · Just wait! In two weeks' time I'll be relaxing on a beach in Greece.· Trained staff will look after your children, so that you can relax and enjoy yourself.· For heaven's sake Keith, will you just sit down and relax for five minutes!
to gradually relax after you have been working hard or worrying a lot: · After a couple of drinks, Tom began to unwind.· Set in spectacular countryside, the Shiga Hotel is the perfect place to unwind. · The world motorcross champion likes nothing better than unwinding in front of the TV.
to do everything slowly and with less effort than usual so that you do not become worried or tired, especially because you are not feeling strong or healthy: · Now that you've finished your exams, you can take it easy.· I'm going to put my feet up and take it easy this afternoon.take things easy: · Pete will still have to take things easy for while.· My training schedule was very demanding last year, so I'm taking things a bit easier this year.take it easy on yourself: · Take it easy on yourself for a few days. We'll talk later.
informal if you loosen up , you become more relaxed and stop worrying about things: · Hey, loosen up! It's not worth getting upset about something she said.· Our drama teacher would do crazy things, just to get us to loosen up some.
spoken informal to relax and calm down, especially after doing something exciting: · The main reason I'm going to Jamaica is so I can lie on the beach and chill out without being distracted.· Would you like to come back to my place and just chill?
informal to relax completely and enjoy yourself, especially in social situations: · I spotted Juanita really letting her hair down on the dance floor.· Chat rooms on the Internet are a place we can let our hair down and say what we think.
to allow yourself to completely relax in a social situation, and not worry about what is polite, or about what other people may think: · He's quite scholarly, but he can be really funny when he lets himself go.· Dick took me to the party and, for once, I let myself go completely.
to rest to stop working or stop being active, and sit down or lie down so that you become less tired: · If you're tired, we'll stop and rest for a while.· The doctor told me to take some time off work and try to rest.
also have a rest especially British to rest for a short time in the middle of a tiring activity: · Don't stay in front of the computer for long periods of time -- take a rest occasionally.· There was a TV in the hotel room, and sometimes I escaped up there to have a rest.take/have a rest from something: · A spokesman said that the Senator needed to take a rest from the campaign activity.
to do something that makes you feel calm and comfortable and helps you to forget about your work and problems: · Take a deep breath, and relax.· They had a lovely weekend, relaxing and lying by the pool.help somebody (to) relax: · Drink this. It will help you relax.
also have a break especially British to stop what you are doing for a short time, so that you can rest: · Let's take a break now for coffee.take/have a short/quick break: · Is it all right if we have a short break at about 10:30?take/have a break from something: · I spoke to the Secretary of State as he took a break from preparing his speech.
also have a lie down/go for a lie down British to put yourself in a flat position, usually on a bed, in order to rest when you are tired, although not necessarily in order to sleep: · During the day, I get so tired I have to lie down on the bed for a couple of hours.· Towards evening she grew tired, and went to her room for a lie down.
informal to rest for a short time after a tiring activity, especially by sitting with your feet resting on something: · Well, at least put your feet up for a few minutes. Would you like a drink?· When you're pregnant and doing a full-time job, you must find time to put your feet up.
to rest, especially by lying in a pleasant place, often when you should be working or doing something: laze in/on/around etc: · I found him lazing around in bed with a cup of coffee and the paper.· On the porch, two large cats sat lazing in the sun.
also take things easy to do things gently and with less effort than usual in order to avoid becoming worried or tired, especially because you are not feeling strong or healthy: · After the operation, I was told to take things easy for a month or two.· Maybe we should just go home and take it easy tonight.
spoken to spend time resting or doing something enjoyable which does not need much effort: · We chilled out in front of the TV with a couple of beers.· Yeah, my family left a few minutes ago, so I'm just chilling for a while.
to become less strict to change your mind and decide to be less strict about something: · Marjorie finally relented and agreed to meet him.· Prison officials relented and allowed Wilson to receive visits from his family.· He begged and begged to be allowed to go to the game, and in the end I relented.
to become less strict and more sympathetic towards someone: · The inspector looked angry but then softened when he saw the boy's frightened expression.· The government seems to have softened its attitude towards single parents.
to change your attitude and become less strict, especially over a long period of time: · She's mellowed a lot since she retired.mellow with age/time: · He hasn't always been so understanding. He's really mellowed with age.
especially spoken to treat someone less strictly than usual, especially because they have special problems or difficulties: · Go easy on her. She's had a very difficult time since her parents died.· I think you should go easy on Jim.
to stop treating someone so strictly, especially because they do not deserve it or because they are affected badly by it: · I've decided we need to ease up on Sally and take the pressure off her for a while.
to treat someone less strictly, especially temporarily after a period of strict treatment: · If you let up on him he'll have a chance to show that he can behave himself.· She never lets up on those poor kids!
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a villa with easy access to the sea I feel a bit better now. Is it easy to clean? The new system is far better than the old one. There are a far greater number of women working in television than twenty years ago. She found the work very dull. Lots of women I know find him attractive. I found them quite easy to use. Hyperactive children find it difficult to concentrate. The plot is a little difficult to follow. It’s hard to guess his age because he dyes his hair. The use of computers has made it possible for more people to work from home. Henry’s room is much bigger than mine. These shoes are much more comfortable. I was surprised to see how much better she was looking. How much better life would be if we returned to the values of the past! The house seemed nice and tidy. There are easy pickings for thieves at these big outdoor concerts. She’s hard to please. Everything has to be perfect. Drug addicts are fairly easy to spot. Drop-down menus make the program very easy to use. We live within easy reach of (=close to) the shops.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
a villa with easy access to the sea· There are a lot of problems and no simple answers.
I feel a bit better now. (=relaxed charm)· Hudson was full of easy charm and smiles.
(=easy or difficult to deal with)· Marcus was a very happy, easy child.
Is it easy to clean? (=near enough to walk to easily)· There are lots of restaurants within walking distance.
· It’s all too easy to exaggerate the importance of these rather minor factors.
The new system is far better than the old one. There are a far greater number of women working in television than twenty years ago. She found the work very dull. Lots of women I know find him attractive. I found them quite easy to use. Hyperactive children find it difficult to concentrate. The plot is a little difficult to follow. It’s hard to guess his age because he dyes his hair.· It’s easy to imagine how the change in the law caused a lot of confusion.
The use of computers has made it possible for more people to work from home. (=something that is easy to do)· Putting together the bookcases is a fairly simple matter.
· She looks like her sister, so it’s an easy mistake to make.
(=money that you earn easily)· For many, selling drugs seems like easy money.
(=without effort)· She swung her legs off the bed in one easy movement.
Henry’s room is much bigger than mine. These shoes are much more comfortable. I was surprised to see how much better she was looking. How much better life would be if we returned to the values of the past! The house seemed nice and tidy. (also a soft option British English) (=a choice which is not difficult, or which needs the least effort)· For most people, divorce is never an easy option.
(=used to say that something is not as important as some people think)· It is easy to overestimate the effect of prison on criminals.
· Deciding what you’re going to cook is the easy part.
There are easy pickings for thieves at these big outdoor concerts. She’s hard to please. Everything has to be perfect.· These questions should be easy for you.
· There is no easy solution to this problem.
Drug addicts are fairly easy to spot.· Some criminals now regard churches as easy targets.
something is no easy task (=something is difficult)· Recruiting experienced people is no easy task nowadays.
· Measures to slow down traffic on the main street have actually made things worse.
Drop-down menus make the program very easy to use.· Arsenal expected an easy victory.
(=near enough to be able to walk to) There are plenty of bars and restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.· From here it is an easy walk to the summit.
· Here’s an easy way to cut up a mango.
· The Australian appeared to be heading for an easy win.
We live within easy reach of (=close to) the shops.· Fear comes easy: understanding is more difficult.· Redford played a character where everything came easy.· But my attitude to money is slightly easy come, easy go.· Nothing has come easy for the 49ers this year, but the coaching decisions Sunday made the game unnecessarily difficult.· Hands are not so easy come by for a slaver.· Such pragmatism has not come easy to liberals.· Laissez faire! Easy come, easy go!· Again, academic success came easy, bud this time I was really interested.
· I stumbled across one shack, but was lucky this farmer was easy going.· They tend to be more easy going and popular, and take more risks, but they can remain insecure and vulnerable.· No easy come, easy go, in this house!· He seemed to thrive under prison conditions, which caused the emperors to suspect their guards of going easy on the prisoner.· But my attitude to money is slightly easy come, easy go.· And go easy on the sugar, salt and alcohol.· Tempting as the warm, crusty sourdough bread is, go easy.· We went easy on Baker and gave him the benefit of the doubt.
· No side can rest easy with such a slender lead.· Wall Street and the bond markets can rest easy.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► easy does it► easy come, easy go► stand easy► easier said than donePHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► somebody can breathe easy/easily► it’s as easy as falling off a log► somebody can sleep easy
- Craig Chalmers, however, can rest easy.
- He also seems to want to be the Nineties Coco Chanel, so street fashion bods can rest easy.
- He can rest easy on that matter.
- No side can rest easy with such a slender lead.
- Some local retailer would rest easy in his bed that night.
- Surely, the letter said with a surprising burst of bitterness, Eileen Ryan would rest easy in her grave at last.
- The sun was up, the dark clouds disappeared and for a moment she breathed easy.
- Wall Street and the bond markets can rest easy.
- You got off pretty easy if you only had to pay a $33 fine.
- Newbill got off easy, but he was about the only one.
- Rich celebrities are allowed to hire good lawyers and get off easy.
- "See you next week." "Yeah, take it easy."
- After the operation, I was told to take things easy for a month or two.
- Hey, take it easy! Nobody's saying you're not good at your job.
- I'm going to put my feet up and take it easy this afternoon.
- I'm going to take it easy this weekend.
- Maybe we should just go home and take it easy tonight.
- Now that you've finished your exams, you can take it easy.
- Pete will still have to take things easy for while.
- Take it easy - everything's going to be just fine.
- Take it easy on yourself for a few days. We'll talk later.
- An officer who wants to take it easy, for example, or run personal errands can do so with virtual impunity.
- And let's just take it easy, shall we?
- For the first time in days, Steven Borup could take it easy.
- I watch a lot of film, and there are guys who from time to time take it easy.
- Just about the time when a nome ought to be taking it easy.
- Rest a bit here and take it easy when you get back home.
- Three years I took it easy, stayed out of sight, made contacts, laid pathways.
- We got a little crossed up, and we thought it would be a better idea if we just took it easy.
- Go easy on the cheese - it has a lot of fat.
- After that, go easy on salty foods such as crisps, bacon, cheese and salted nuts.
- And go easy on the sugar, salt and alcohol.
- Fred must go easy on his eyes.
- He seemed to thrive under prison conditions, which caused the emperors to suspect their guards of going easy on the prisoner.
- We can go easy on him with the questions, but I want Nate to be impressed.
- We went easy on Baker and gave him the benefit of the doubt.
- Go easy on Peter - he's having a hard time at school.
- After that, go easy on salty foods such as crisps, bacon, cheese and salted nuts.
- And go easy on the sugar, salt and alcohol.
- Fred must go easy on his eyes.
- He seemed to thrive under prison conditions, which caused the emperors to suspect their guards of going easy on the prisoner.
- We can go easy on him with the questions, but I want Nate to be impressed.
- We went easy on Baker and gave him the benefit of the doubt.
- He offsets Roberts' operatic evil with a performance that commands all the more notice for its minimalism.
- His job was made all the more easier by drivers who hadn't bothered to take measures to stop people like him.
- If there is some meat left on the bones, all the better.
- It makes it all the more opportune.
- Superb defence by Karpov, all the more praiseworthy in that he was now in desperate time trouble.
- The dispute was all the more bitter because a prize was at stake.
- The inadequacy and treachery of the old leaderships of the working class have made the need all the more imperative.
- Weather experts say it was a relatively dry winter which makes the water recovery all the more remarkable.
- a free and easy lifestyle
- A free and easy smile, but lop-sided because her face was still puffy from Garty's beating.
- Cousin Noreen was arriving on Sunday and life wasn't going to be so free and easy after that.
- Gone was the free and easy time of three meals a day and as many hot drinks as we liked.
- In this free and easy style, I accustomed myself to the rhythms of school life.
- It was as if they were indeed from another world: a happy world, a free and easy world.
- Robyn remembered his free and easy hand as he had poured her wine.
- The time they shared became special now, where before they had been free and easy.
- Their relationship is not free and easy but at least Red is no longer looking daggers at her.
- I don't deny it was a good lay.
- But this arbitrary division of the country has not made life easier for either the North or the South.
- Having to adopt the fast-track method made life difficult for all three.
- Jim was uninterested in learning the kind of ecclesial footwork that would have made life easier for himself and his parish.
- Latecomers, however, do make life difficult - and unnecessarily expensive.
- The lack of economic statistics has made life difficult for economists and money managers for the past few weeks.
- There's no greater pleasure than handing over money to a local supplier who helps make life easier.
- To make life easier in the future, will you be publishing an index?
- With the advent of electrics, journey times were to be halves, as well as making life easier for locomotive crews.
- We have put together a few of the most popular itineraries to help make your choice that little bit easier.
- If her own mind could play tricks like that, she'd be easy meat for any of those giant prawns.
- If we think they are easy meat we will end up with egg on our faces.
- Quakers were easy meat at home.
- Unprotected by a shell, they are easy meat for insect larvae and flatworms.
- With most of the control surfaces shot away, they were easy meat for a Messerschmitt.
- Instead of working to keep their marriages, more and more people are taking the easy option and getting divorced.
- Some people think that studying languages instead of sciences is a soft option.
- But their other argument is possibly more persuasive: it's that farm saving is not an easy option.
- His refusal to take the easy option is admirable.
- In a situation of this sort ignorance is often the easy option.
- It is, though, an easy option for simple Web pages.
- Promising extra money, though welcome in itself, is the easy option.
- They have no dislike of getting their feet wet, while preferring to stay dry where the easy option exists.
- Trotting is very pleasant, but it's not an easy option.
- Well, he certainly achieved it but remember, winning championships is the easy option.
- It is easy prey - I've caught them myself.
- Like a wolf pack scenting easy prey, they dismounted and spread out.
- Men prowled the motel like packs of wolves searching out easy prey.
- More rarely, I watched them diving in the sea for sea urchins or other easy prey.
- The dams also render the animals easy prey for hunters and trap them when the water is drained for irrigation.
- Then, as the softies were driven extinct, Harrington followed them, having no easy prey left.
- Three groups are easy prey to the underclass's recruiting sergeant.
- We were barely moving through the water, an easy prey.
- Also within easy reach of many places of interest, including the new International Convention Centre.
- It was so away from it all yet within easy reach of the city.
- None of the androids flew within reach of the weapon.
- That victory put him within reach of the top ten.
- The latter were concentrated quite markedly in Stratford and Forest Gate within easy reach of the main railway line into the city.
- The science-room windows were within easy reach of the school keeper's shammy.
- Weldon is within easy reach of major towns like Leicester, Peterborough and Northampton.
- Craig Chalmers, however, can rest easy.
- He also seems to want to be the Nineties Coco Chanel, so street fashion bods can rest easy.
- He can rest easy on that matter.
- No side can rest easy with such a slender lead.
- Some local retailer would rest easy in his bed that night.
- Surely, the letter said with a surprising burst of bitterness, Eileen Ryan would rest easy in her grave at last.
- Wall Street and the bond markets can rest easy.
- When I have a shoal of feeding bream in the swim I can not rest easy.
- Any member on a committee to which Karl Barth belonged had a rough ride.
- But history says Bill Clinton may be in for a rough ride.
- Even after the Renaissance and the rebirth of learning had reached these shores ears were still having a rough ride.
- He cheered Tory backbenchers, but they predicted that the Chancellor could also face a rough ride unless the plan works.
- Well, it's turned out not so badly, he thought, although it's been a rough ride.
- And he knew I was a soft touch, that I did most of the housework so he could be free.
- Artisans needed more than just fertile imaginations and a soft touch with a trowel to bring their work to life.
- Cool for Cats at Stennis Head - a soft touch E15b.
- Leeds are a soft touch when it comes to transfers.
- Middlesbrough showed a resilience that emphasised they are no longer a soft touch on their travels.
- My client was a soft touch.
- Next to it goes a soft touch 6a, Cocoluche, which has an easily avoidable 6b section.
- Terry was such a soft touch.
WORD FAMILYnouneaseuneaseeasinessuneasinessadverbeasilyuneasilyeasyadjectiveeasyuneasyverbease
1take it easy a) (also take things easy) to relax and not do very much: Take things easy for a few days and you should be all right. b)spoken used to tell someone to become less upset or angry: Just take it easy and tell us what happened. c)American English spoken used to say goodbye2go easy on/with something to not use too much of something: Go easy on salty foods such as bacon.3go easy on somebody to be more gentle and less strict or angry with someone: Go easy on Peter for a while – he’s having a hard time at school.4easier said than done especially spoken used to say that something would be very difficult to do: Finding the perfect house was easier said than done.5rest/breathe easy to stop worrying: We can rest easy now – we’ve got everything under control.6easy does it spoken used to tell someone to be more careful and slow, especially in moving7get off easy informal to escape severe punishment for something that you have done wrong: The rich could hire good lawyers and get off easy.8easy come, easy go spoken used when something, especially money, was easily obtained and is quickly used or spent9stand easy an order telling soldiers who are already standing at ease to relax more