child's play

USAGE SUMMARY

"child's play" is a common English expression that can be used in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that is extremely easy or effortless, as in "Organizing the picnic was child's play."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For Mr Zhou this is not just child's play.

BBC

Pah -- child's play.

Los Angeles Times

Her project is no child's play.

Huffington Post

It's child's play".

The New York Times

But as any pro will tell you, that's child's play.

TechCrunch

It's like child's play".

The New York Times

It's literal child's play.

TechCrunch

And it's not child's play.

Huffington Post

Child's play.

The New York Times

That was child's play".

The New York Times - Books

"Child's play," he said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "child's play" to emphasize how easy a task is, especially when contrasting it with something more difficult. For example: "After years of complex negotiations, this contract was child's play."

Common error

While "child's play" is a vivid idiom, avoid using it too frequently in your writing. Vary your language with synonyms like "a piece of cake" or "a breeze" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "child's play" functions as a noun, typically used predicatively to describe something as being very easy. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is commonly used in written English to refer to tasks that are effortless.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

93%

Wiki

4%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "child's play" is a common and widely understood idiom used to describe something exceptionally easy. As Ludwig AI points out, it's considered grammatically correct and suitable for written English, though primarily in neutral to informal contexts. While it's most frequently found in news and media sources, it's less common in formal academic or scientific writing. For more formal settings, synonyms like "simple" or "straightforward" may be more appropriate. Overall, "child's play" effectively conveys the idea of something being effortless and easily accomplished.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a piece of cake

This idiom directly conveys the idea of something being very easy to accomplish.

easy as pie

Similar to "a piece of cake", this emphasizes simplicity and ease.

duck soup

An informal idiom suggesting that something is easily managed.

a cinch

This term implies that success is assured with minimal effort.

a breeze

Suggests effortless ease, like being carried by a gentle wind.

walk in the park

This idiom implies a pleasant and uncomplicated experience.

no sweat

An informal way to say something requires no effort or worry.

plain sailing

This nautical term means progress is smooth and without obstacles.

effortless

This single word highlights the lack of difficulty involved.

simple task

A straightforward description indicating a lack of complexity.

FAQs

How can I use "child's play" in a sentence?

You can use "child's play" to describe something very easy. For example: "Compared to fixing the engine, changing a tire is "child's play"."

What's a synonym for "child's play"?

Alternatives to "child's play" include "a piece of cake", "a breeze", or "duck soup", all suggesting something is very easy.

Is "child's play" appropriate for formal writing?

While widely understood, "child's play" is generally considered informal. In formal contexts, opt for alternatives like "straightforward" or "simple".

What does it mean when someone says something is "child's play"?

It means that the task or activity is extremely easy and requires little effort, like something a child could easily do.