adjective, adverb
adjective (easier, easiest)
1 not difficult; done or obtained without a lot of effort or problems:
an easy exam / job * He didn't make it easy for me to leave. * Their house isn't the easiest place to get to. * vegetables that are easy to grow * Several schools are within easy reach (= not far away). * It can't be easy for her, on her own with the children. * It's easy for you to tell me to keep calm, but you're not in my position. * It would be the easiest thing in the world to fall in love with him.
OPPHARD
2 comfortable, relaxed and not worried:
I'll agree to anything for an easy life. * I don't feel easy about letting the kids go out alone.
OPPUNEASY
3 [onlybeforenoun] open to attack; not able to defend yourself:
She's an easy target for their criticisms. * The baby fish are easy prey for birds.
4 [onlybeforenoun] pleasant and friendly; not awkward:
He had a very easy manner.
5 [notusuallybeforenoun] (informal, disapproving) (of women) willing to have sex with many different people
seealsoEASILY
easiness noun [U]
IDIOMS
as easy as anything / as pie / as ABC / as falling off a log (informal) very easy or very easily:
Fooling him was as easy as falling off a log.
easy money money that you get without having to work very hard for it
easy on the ear / eye (informal) pleasant to listen to or look at:
The room was painted in soft pastels that were easy on the eye.
have an easy time (of it) (BrE) to have no difficulties or problems:
He's had an easy time of it since he married Lucy.
I'm easy (BrE, informal) used to say that you do not have a strong opinion when sb has offered you a choice:
'Do you want to watch this or the news?' 'Oh, I'm easy. It's up to you.'
of easy virtue (old-fashioned) (of a woman) willing to have sex with anyone
on easy street (AmE) enjoying a comfortable way of life with plenty of money
take the easy way out to end a difficult situation by choosing the simplest solution even if it is not the best one:
He took the easy way out and didn't go to the meeting.
moreatFREEadj., OPTION, REACHn., RIDEn., TOUCHn.
adverb (easier, easiest) used to tell sb to be careful when doing sth:
Easy with that chair-one of its legs is loose.
IDIOMS
easier said than done much more difficult to do than to talk about:
'Why don't you get yourself a job?' 'That's easier said than done.'
easy come, easy go (saying) used to mean that sb does not care very much about money or possessions especially if they spend it or lose sth
easy does it (informal) used to tell sb to do sth, or move sth, slowly and carefully
go easy on sb (informal) used to tell sb to treat a person in a gentle way and not to be too angry or severe:
Go easy on her-she's having a really hard time at the moment.
go easy on / with sth (informal) used to tell sb not to use too much of sth:
Go easy on the sugar.
stand easy used as a command to soldiers who are already standing ATEASE to tell them that they can stand in an even more relaxed way
take it easy (spoken) used to tell sb not to be worried or angry:
Take it easy! Don't panic.
take it / things easy to relax and avoid working too hard or doing too much:
The doctor told me to take it easy for a few weeks. * I like to take things easy when I'm on holiday.
