English▸ adjective
(easier, easiest)
1 achieved without great effort; presenting few difficulties:
an easy way of retrieving information.
2 (of a period of time or way of life) free from worries or problems:
promises of an easy life in the New World.
▪ (of a person) lacking anxiety or awkwardness; relaxed:
his easy and agreeable manner
they didn't feel easy about what they were doing.
3 [attributive] (of an object of attack or criticism) having no defense; vulnerable:
he was vulnerable and an easy target.
▪ informal, derogatory very receptive to sexual advances (typically used of a woman):
her reputation at school for being easy.
▸ adverb archaic or US informal without difficulty or effort:
we all scared real easy in those days.
▸ exclamation be careful:
easy, girl—you'll knock me over!
– PHRASES
be easier said than done
be more easily talked about than put into practice:
used to indicate that a relationship or possession acquired without effort may be abandoned or lost casually and without regret.easy does it
used especially in spoken English to advise someone to approach a task carefully and slowly:
pleasant to look at:
pleasant to listen to:
a person who readily gives or does something if asked.go easy on (also be easy on) informal have it easy informal
be free from difficulties; be fortunate:
said by someone when offered a choice to indicate that they have no particular preference.of easy virtue dated
very receptive to sexual advances (typically used of a woman):
be untroubled by worries:
go to sleep without worries:
extricate oneself from a difficult situation by choosing the simplest or most expedient course rather than the most honorable or ethical one:
proceed calmly and in a relaxed manner.
be easier said than done
be more easily talked about than put into practice:
going on an economy drive is easier said than done.
easy come, easy go used to indicate that a relationship or possession acquired without effort may be abandoned or lost casually and without regret.easy does it
used especially in spoken English to advise someone to approach a task carefully and slowly:
with father's wine in the back I mustn't drive too fast, so easy does it.
easy on the eye (also easy on the eyes) informal pleasant to look at:
a charming village that is easy on the eye.
easy on the ear (also easy on the ears) informal pleasant to listen to:
his singing is easy on the ear.
easy touch informal a person who readily gives or does something if asked.go easy on (also be easy on) informal have it easy informal
be free from difficulties; be fortunate:
they have had it easy for too long and have become complacent.
I'm easy informal said by someone when offered a choice to indicate that they have no particular preference.of easy virtue dated
very receptive to sexual advances (typically used of a woman):
critics believed that as a painter she must be a woman of easy virtue.
rest easy be untroubled by worries:
this insurance policy will let you rest easy.
sleep easy go to sleep without worries:
Mac and Linux users can sleep easy. They're immune to the virus.
take the easy way out extricate oneself from a difficult situation by choosing the simplest or most expedient course rather than the most honorable or ethical one:
she had taken the easy way out by returning the keys without a message.
take it easy proceed calmly and in a relaxed manner.
▪ make little effort; rest.
– ORIGIN Middle English (also in the sense ‘comfortable, tranquil’): from Old French aisie, past participle of aisier ‘put at ease, facilitate’ (see ease).