easy (redirected from taking the easy way out)

eas·y  (z)

adj. eas·i·er, eas·i·est

1. Capable of being accomplished or acquired with ease; posing no difficulty: an easy victory; an easy problem.

2. Requiring or exhibiting little effort or endeavor; undemanding: took the easy way out of her problems; wasn't satisfied with easy answers.

3. Free from worry, anxiety, trouble, or pain: My mind was easy, knowing that I had done my best.

4.

a. Affording comfort or relief; soothing: soft light that was easy on the eyes.

b. Prosperous; well-off: easy living; easy circumstances.

5. Causing little hardship or distress: an easy penalty; a habit that isn't easy to give up.

6. Socially at ease: an easy, good-natured manner.

7.

a. Relaxed in attitude; easygoing: an easy disposition.

b. Not strict or severe; lenient: an easy teacher; easy standards.

8. Readily exploited, imposed on, or tricked: an easy mark; an easy victim.

9.

a. Not hurried or forced; moderate: an easy pace; an easy walk around the block.

b. Light; gentle: an easy tap on the shoulder.

10. Not steep or abrupt; gradual: an easy climb.

11. Economics

a. Less in demand and therefore readily obtainable: Commodities are easier this quarter.

b. Plentiful and therefore at low interest rates: easy money.

12. Promiscuous; loose.

adv.

1. Without haste or agitation: Relax and take it easy for a while.

2. With little effort; easily: success that came too easy.

3. In a restrained or moderate manner: Go easy on the butter.

4. Without much hardship or cost: got off easy with only a small fine.

Idiom:

easy as pie Informal

Capable of being accomplished or done with no difficulty.

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[Middle English esi, from Old French aaisie, past participle of aaisier, to put at ease : a-, to (from Latin ad-, ad-) + aise, ease; see ease.]

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easi·ness n.

Synonyms: easy, simple, facile, effortless
These adjectives mean requiring little effort or posing little if any difficulty. Easy applies to tasks that require little effort: "The diagnosis of disease is often easy, often difficult, and often impossible" (Peter M. Latham).
Simple implies a lack of complexity that facilitates understanding or performance: "the faculty ... of reducing his thought on any subject to the simplest and plainest terms possible" (Baron Charnwood).
Facile stresses readiness and fluency: a facile speaker.
Often, though, the word implies glibness or insincerity, superficiality, or lack of care: an explanation too facile for complex events.
Effortless refers to performance in which the application of great strength or skill makes the execution seem easy: wrote effortless prose.

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easy [ˈiːzɪ]

adj easier, easiest

1. not requiring much labour or effort; not difficult; simple an easy job

2. free from pain, care, or anxiety easy in one's mind

3. not harsh or restricting; lenient easy laws

4. tolerant and undemanding; easy-going an easy disposition

5. readily influenced or persuaded; pliant she was an easy victim of his wiles

6. not tight or constricting; loose an easy fit

7. not strained or extreme; moderate; gentle an easy pace an easy ascent

8. (Economics) Economics

a.  readily obtainable

b.  (of a market) characterized by low demand or excess supply with prices tending to fall Compare tight [10]

9. Informal ready to fall in with any suggestion made; not predisposed he is easy about what to do

10. Slang sexually available

easy on the eye Informal pleasant to look at; attractive, esp sexually

woman of easy virtue a sexually available woman, esp a prostitute

adv

1. Informal in an easy or relaxed manner

2. Informal

easy does it go slowly and carefully; be careful

go easy on

a.  to use in moderation

b.  to treat leniently

(Military)

stand easy Military a command to soldiers standing at ease that they may relax further

take it easy

a.  to avoid stress or undue hurry

b.  to remain calm; not become agitated or angry

vb easies, easying, easied

(Team Sports / Rowing) (usually imperative) Also easy-oar to stop rowing

[from Old French aisié, past participle of aisier to relieve, ease]

Usage: Easy is not used as an adverb by careful speakers and writers except in certain set phrases: to take it easy; easy does it. Where a fixed expression is not involved, the usual adverbial form of easily is preferred: this polish goes on more easily (not easier) than the other

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	easy - posing no difficulty; requiring little effort; "an easy job"; "an easy problem"; "an easy victory"; "the house is easy to heat"; "satisfied with easy answers"; "took the easy way out of his dilemma" undemanding - requiring little if any patience or effort or skill; "the pay was adequate and the job undemanding"; "simple undemanding affection"; "an undemanding boss" effortless - requiring or apparently requiring no effort; "the swallows glided in an effortless way through the busy air" soft - compassionate and kind; conciliatory; "he was soft on his children" simple - having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved; "a simple problem"; "simple mechanisms"; "a simple design"; "a simple substance" difficult, hard - not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure; "a difficult task"; "nesting places on the cliffs are difficult of access"; "difficult times"; "why is it so hard for you to keep a secret?"
	2.	easy - not hurried or forced; "an easy walk around the block"; "at a leisurely (or easygoing) pace" easygoing, leisurely unhurried - relaxed and leisurely; without hurry or haste; "people strolling about in an unhurried way"; "an unhurried walk"; "spoke in a calm and unhurried voice"
	3.	easy - free from worry or anxiety; "knowing that I had done my best, my mind was easy"; "an easy good-natured manner"; "by the time the chsild faced the actual problem of reading she was familiar and at ease with all the elements words" comfortable - free from stress or conducive to mental ease; having or affording peace of mind; "was settled in a comfortable job, one for which he was well prepared"; "the comfortable thought that nothing could go wrong"; "was comfortable in his religious beliefs"; "she's a comfortable person to be with"; "she felt comfortable with her fiance's parents" relaxed - without strain or anxiety; "gave the impression of being quite relaxed"; "a relaxed and informal discussion" uneasy - lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance; "farmers were uneasy until rain finally came"; "uneasy about his health"; "gave an uneasy laugh"; "uneasy lies the head that wears the crown"; "an uneasy coalition government"; "an uneasy calm"; "an uneasy silence fell on the group"
	4.	easy - affording pleasure; "easy good looks" pleasing - giving pleasure and satisfaction; "a pleasing piece of news"; "pleasing in manner and appearance"
	5.	easy - having little impact; "an easy pat on the shoulder"; "gentle rain"; "a gentle breeze"; "a soft (or light) tapping at the window" gentle, soft light - of little intensity or power or force; "the light touch of her fingers"; "a light breeze"
	6.	easy - readily exploited or tricked; "an easy victim"; "an easy mark" impressible, impressionable, waxy - easily impressed or influenced; "an impressionable youngster"; "an impressionable age"; "a waxy mind"
	7.	easy - in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich; "they were comfortable or even wealthy by some standards"; "easy living"; "a prosperous family"; "his family is well-situated financially"; "well-to-do members of the community" prosperous, well-fixed, well-heeled, well-off, well-situated, well-to-do, comfortable rich - possessing material wealth; "her father is extremely rich"; "many fond hopes are pinned on rich uncles"
	8.	easy - marked by moderate steepness; "an easy climb"; "a gentle slope" gentle gradual - (of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt; "a gradual slope"
	9.	easy - affording comfort; "soft light that was easy on the eyes" comfortable, comfy - providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (`comfy' is informal); "comfortable clothes"; "comfortable suburban houses"; "made himself comfortable in an armchair"; "the antihistamine made her feel more comfortable"; "are you comfortable?"; "feeling comfy now?"
	10.	easy - casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior; "her easy virtue"; "he was told to avoid loose (or light) women"; "wanton behavior" promiscuous, sluttish, wanton, loose, light unchaste - not chaste; "unchaste conduct"
	11.	easy - less in demand and therefore readily obtainable; "commodities are easy this quarter" economic science, economics, political economy - the branch of social science that deals with the production and distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management available - obtainable or accessible and ready for use or service; "kept a fire extinguisher available"; "much information is available through computers"; "available in many colors"; "the list of available candidates is unusually long"
	12.	easy - obtained with little effort or sacrifice, often obtained illegally; "easy money" economic science, economics, political economy - the branch of social science that deals with the production and distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management abundant - present in great quantity; "an abundant supply of water"
Adv.	1.	easy - with ease (`easy' is sometimes used informally for `easily'); "she was easily excited"; "was easily confused"; "he won easily"; "this china breaks very easily"; "success came too easy" easily colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech
	2.	easy - without speed (`slow' is sometimes used informally for `slowly'); "he spoke slowly"; "go easy here--the road is slippery"; "glaciers move tardily"; "please go slow so I can see the sights" slow, slowly, tardily colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech
	3.	easy - in a relaxed manner; or without hardship; "just wanted to take it easy" (`soft' is nonstandard) soft colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech

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easy

adjective

1. simple, straightforward, no trouble, not difficult, effortless, painless, clear, light, uncomplicated, child's play (informal), plain sailing, undemanding, a pushover (slang), a piece of cake (informal), no bother, a bed of roses, easy-peasy (slang), a piece of piss (taboo slang), EZ (S.M.S.) This is not an easy task.
simple hard, demanding, difficult, complex, impossible, exhausting, exacting, stiff, tense, formidable, arduous, onerous

2. untroubled, contented, relaxed, satisfied, calm, peaceful, serene, tranquil, quiet, undisturbed, unworried, EZ (S.M.S.) I was not altogether easy in my mind about this decision.

3. relaxed, friendly, open, natural, pleasant, casual, informal, laid-back (informal), graceful, gracious, unaffected, easy-going, affable, unpretentious, unforced, undemanding, unconstrained, unceremonious, EZ (S.M.S.) She laughed and joked and made easy conversation with everyone.
relaxed forced, affected, formal, anxious, stiff, uncomfortable, unnatural, self-conscious

4. carefree, comfortable, pleasant, leisurely, well-to-do, trouble-free, untroubled, cushy (informal), unworried, easeful, EZ (S.M.S.) She has had a very easy life.
carefree difficult, worried, uncomfortable, stressful, insecure

5. tolerant, light, liberal, soft, flexible, mild, laid-back (informal), indulgent, easy-going, lenient, permissive, unoppressive, EZ (S.M.S.) I guess we've always been too easy with our children.
tolerant hard, demanding, difficult, strict, exacting, harsh, stern, rigid, inflexible, dictatorial, intolerant, unyielding

6. (Informal) accommodating, yielding, manageable, easy-going, compliant, amenable, submissive, docile, pliant, tractable, biddable, EZ (S.M.S.) `Your father was not an easy child,' she told me.
accommodating difficult, impossible, unyielding

7. vulnerable, soft, naive, susceptible, gullible, exploitable, EZ (S.M.S.) She was an easy target for con-men.

8. leisurely, relaxed, comfortable, moderate, unhurried, undemanding, EZ (S.M.S.) the easy pace set by pilgrims heading to Canterbury

Proverbs
"Easy come, easy go"

Translations

easy [ˈiːzɪ]

A. ADJ (easier (compar) (easiest (superl)))

1. (= not difficult) [task, job, decision, victory] → fácil
it is easy to see that → es fácil ver que ...
he's easy to work with → es fácil trabajar con él
he's easy to get on with → es muy fácil llevarse bien con él
fluorescent jackets are easy to see at night → las chaquetas fluorescentes son fáciles de ver por la noche
there are no easy answers → no hay respuestas fáciles
to be far from easy → no ser nada fácil
he came in an easy first → llegó el primero sin problemas
that's easy for you to say → para ti es fácil decirlo
to have it easy → tenerlo fácil
the easy life → la vida fácil
easy listening (= music) → música f fácil de escuchar
they made it very easy for us → nos lo pusieron muy fácil
"Russian made easy" → "ruso sin esfuerzo"
to be no easy matter → no ser cosa fácil
it's an easy mistake to make → es un error que se comete fácilmente
easy money → dinero m fácil
to be none too easy → no ser nada fácil
to be easy on the eye/ear → ser or resultar agradable a la vista/al oído
eat something that's easy on the stomach → come algo que sea fácil de digerir
to go for or take the easy option → optar por lo más fácil
that's the easy part → eso es lo fácil
easy pickings → botín m fácil
easy prey → presa f fácil
to be within easy reach of sth → estar muy cerca de algo
to make easy reading → ser fácil de leer
to have an easy ride (fig) → tener las cosas fáciles
that's easier said than done! → ¡eso se dice pronto!, es fácil decirlo, pero hacerlo ...
I'd love to tell her to get lost but that's easier said than done → me encantaría mandarla al cuerno pero no es tan fácil de hacer
in or by easy stages → por etapas fáciles de superar
to be no easy task → no ser cosa fácil
to buy sth on easy terms (Comm) → comprar algo con facilidades de pago
to have an easy time → no tener problemas
to take the easy way out (fig) → optar por el camino más fácil
it's as easy as ABC or falling off a log or pie → es facilísimo
to be on easy street → estar forrado

2. (= relaxed) [life] → cómodo, relajado; [manners] → relajado, natural; [disposition, conversation, conscience] → tranquilo; [smile] → fácil; [voice, tone, style] → natural; [pace] → lento, pausado; [movement] → suelto, relajado
I'm easy (= not particular) → me es igual or me da igual
to feel easy (in one's mind) → sentirse tranquilo
I don't feel easy about leaving the children with that woman → no me siento tranquilo dejando a los niños con esa mujer
we relaxed into easy laughter → nos relajamos y empezamos a reírnos con naturalidad
he has or enjoys an easy relationship with his stepchildren → tiene una relación muy buena or se lleva muy bien con los hijos de su mujer
you can rest easy → puedes estar tranquilo
to be on easy terms with sb → estar en confianza con algn

3. (= promiscuous) [woman] → fácil
a woman of easy virtue (o.f., euph) → una mujer ligera de cascos

B. ADV
we can all breathe easy now → ahora todos podemos respirar tranquilos
taking orders doesn't come easy to him → no le resulta fácil obedecer órdenes
easy come, easy go → tal y como viene se va
easy does it! → ¡despacio!, ¡cuidado!, ¡con calma!
go easy with the sugar → no te pases con el azúcar
go easy on him → no seas muy duro con él
to take things easy, take it easy (= rest) → descansar; (= go slowly) → tomárselo con calma
take it easy! (= don't worry) → ¡cálmete!, ¡no te pongas nervioso!; (= don't rush) → ¡despacio!, ¡no corras!
see also stand C1

C. CPD easy chair N → butaca f, sillón m (Sp)

EASY, DIFFICULT, IMPOSSIBLE

• Fácil, difícil and imposible are followed directly by the infinitive when they qualify the action itself:

Solving the problem is easy, It's easy to solve the problem Es fácil resolver el problema It is sometimes difficult/impossible to control oneself En ocasiones es difícil/imposible controlarse

• When the adjective qualifies a noun or pronoun rather than the verb, de is inserted before the infinitive:

The problem is easy to solve El problema es fácil de resolver That's difficult or hard to believe Eso es difícil de creer Semtex is impossible to detect El Semtex es imposible de detectar

! Remember in this case to make the adjective agree with the noun or pronoun it describes:

Some of his works are difficult to classify Algunas de sus obras son difíciles de encasillar

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easy [ˈiːzi]

adj

(= simple) → facile
it's easy to do ... (= not difficult) → il est facile de faire ...
It's easy to train dogs → C'est facile de dresser des chiens.
It's easy to make a mistake → Il est facile de faire une erreur.
sth is easy to do
Dogs are easy to train → Les chiens sont faciles à dresser.
to be easy for sb to do sth → être facile pour qn de faire qch
That's easy for you to say! → Pour toi, c'est facile à dire!
that's easier said than done → c'est plus facile à dire qu'à faire

(= relaxed) [manner] → aisé(e); [conversation] → tranquille
to feel easy about sth → être tranquille à propos de qch
to feel easy about doing sth → être tranquille à l'idée de faire qch
I'm easy (= don't mind) → ça m'est égal

(= untroubled) [life] → facile
to make life easier → rendre la vie plus facile

(= vulnerable) [target, prey] → facile

payment on easy terms (COMMERCE) → facilités fpl de paiement

adv

(in a relaxed way) to take things easy, to take it easy (not push o.s. too hard) → y aller doucement; (not worry)
Take it easy. Everything's under control → Ne t'inquiète pas. Tout est en ordre.

(= carefully) easy does it → doucement

to go easy on sth (= not take too much) → y aller doucement avec qch
to go easy on sb (= be gentle with) → y aller doucement avec qn
easy-care [ˈiːzikeə^r] adj [fabric, shirt] → d'entretien facile
easy chair n → fauteuil m
easy-going [ˌiːziˈgəʊɪŋ] adj (= equable) [person] → facile à vivre; [attitude] → complaisant(e)
She's very easy-going → Elle est très facile à vivre.
easy-listening easy listening [ˌiːziˈlɪs^ənɪŋ]

n (= music) → easy-listening f

adj [album, CD] → d'easy-listening; [version] → easy-listening
easy-peasy [ˌiːziˈpiːzi] adj (British) (= very easy) → fastoche >
easy touch n (= person)
He's an easy touch → C'est une bonne poire.

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easy

adj (+er)

(= simple) → leicht; task, job → leicht, einfach; option, solution, answer → einfach; finding somewhere to eat is an easy task → es ist leicht or einfach, ein Restaurant zu finden; it’s no easy task → es ist nicht einfach; it’s easy to forget that … → man vergisst leicht, dass …; it’s easy for her → sie hat es leicht; it’s easy for her to do it → sie kann es leicht tun; that’s easy for you to say → du hast gut reden; to make easy reading → leicht zu lesen sein; he was an easy winner → er hat mühelos gewonnen; to be far from easy or none too easy → alles andere als leicht sein, nicht gerade leicht sein; that’s the easy part → das ist das Einfache; it’s an easy (enough) mistake to make → den Fehler kann man leicht machen, das kann einem leicht passieren; to be within easy reach of something → etw leicht erreichen können; in or by easy stages (= step by step) → Schritt für Schritt; (= gradually) → nach und nach; as easy as pie or as ABC or as falling off a log → kinderleicht; easier said than done → leichter gesagt als getan; easy credit → leicht erhältliche Kredite; on easy terms (Comm) → zu günstigen Bedingungen; to go for the easy option, to take the easy way out → es sich (dat) → leicht machen; she is easy to work with/get on with → mit ihr kann man gut arbeiten/auskommen; she opted for the easy life → sie machte sich (dat) → das Leben leicht; easy living → ein sorgenfreies Leben; to have it easy, to have an easy time (of it) → es leicht haben; to have an easy ride → es leicht haben; he will not be given an easy ride → man wird es ihm nicht leicht machen; easy prey → eine leichte Beute; to be easy meat (inf) → eine leichte Beute sein

(= not harsh) to be easy on the eye/ear → angenehm anzusehen/anzuhören sein; he/she is easy on the eye (inf) → er/sie sieht gut aus; to be easy on the stomach → leicht verdaulich sein

(= relaxed) temperament, conversation, laugh, smile, voice → ungezwungen; relationship → unbefangen; tone → lässig; at an easy pace → in gemütlichem Tempo; he had a quick and easy laugh → er lachte schnell und ungezwungen; to be on easy terms with somebody → mit jdm auf vertrautem Fuß stehen; I’m easy (Brit inf) → mir ist alles recht, ist mir egal (inf); stand easy! (Brit Mil) → rührt euch!; I don’t feel easy about it (= uncomfortable) → es ist mir nicht recht, mir ist dabei nicht wohl

(pej inf: = promiscuous) she’s easy → sie ist immer zu haben; she wasn’t like the easy girls he had known → sie war anders als die leichten Mädchen, die er gekannt hatte; to be an easy make (US) or lay (sl) → jeden ranlassen (inf); woman of easy virtue (dated euph, = prostitute) → Freudenmädchen nt

adv (inf) to go easy on somebody → nicht so streng mit jdm sein; to go easy on something → mit etw sparsam umgehen; to go easy on the brakes/one’s liver → die Bremsen/seine Leber schonen; to take it easy, to take things easy (= rest) → sich schonen; take it easy! (= calm down) → immer mit der Ruhe!; (esp US, when saying goodbye) → machs gut!; easy does it → immer sachte

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easy:

easy-care

adj → pflegeleicht

easy chair

n → Sessel m

easy come, easy go

interj → wie gewonnen, so zerronnen (Prov)

easy-come easy-go

adj → unbekümmert

easy-going

adj (= not anxious) → gelassen; (= lax) → lax, lässig

easy listening

n → leichte Musik, Unterhaltungsmusik f

easy-listening

adj album, CD → mit leichter Musik, mit Unterhaltungsmusik; easy music → leichte Musik, Unterhaltungsmusik f

easy money

n → leicht verdientes Geld; you can make easy → Sie können leicht Geld machen

easy-on-the-pocket

adj → erschwinglich

easy-peasy

adj (Brit inf, baby-talk) → kinderleicht

easy street

n (inf) to be on easy → im Wohlstand leben

easy touch

n to be an easy (inf) → nicht nein or Nein sagen können

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easy [ˈiːzɪ]

1. (-ier (comp) (-iest (superl))) adj

a. (not difficult) → facile
it is easy to see that ... → è facile comprendere che...
he's easy to get on with → ha un buon carattere
he came in an easy first → ha vinto di larga misura
easier said than done → si fa presto a dirlo
easy money → facili guadagni mpl

b. (carefree, life) → agiato/a, tranquillo/a; (relationship) → cordiale; (relaxed, manners, style) → disinvolto/a
to feel easy in one's mind → sentirsi tranquillo/a
payment on easy terms (Comm) → facilitazioni fpl di pagamento
I'm easy (fam) → non ho problemi

2. adv easy does it! → piano!
to take it or things easy → prendersela con calma
take it easy! (don't worry) → non prendertela! (don't rush) → calma!
go easy with the sugar → vacci piano con lo zucchero
go easy on him → non essere troppo duro con lui
stand easy! (Mil) → riposo!

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easy ease

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easy → سهل lehký let einfach εύκολος fácil helppo facile lagan facile 簡単な 쉬운 gemakkelijk lettvint łatwy fácil легко enkel ง่าย kolay dễ 容易的