easy

1 /'i:zi/ adjective

1 NOT DIFFICULT not difficult, and not needing much physical or mental effort: The easiest way to get there is through the park. | It can't have been easy raising three children all by herself. | easy to make/build/do etc: Are the instructions easy to follow? | make things easy (for sb): Having a computer will definitely make things a lot easier. | easy as pie (=very easy) | within easy (walking) distance (=near enough to walk to)

2 NOT WORRIED not feeling worried or anxious: Would it make you feel easier if I phoned when I got there? | with an easy mind: I can't go to bed with an easy mind until I know she's safe.

—opposite uneasy

3 easy victim/prey etc someone who cannot easily defend themselves against bad treatment, attack etc: Elderly and frail, she was easy prey for muggers.

4 easy on the eye/ear pleasant to look at or listen to: Choose colours that are soft and easy on the eye.

5 have an easy time of it to have no problems or difficulties: She hasn't had an easy time of it since Jack left.

6 take the easy way out to end a difficult situation in a way that seems easy, but is not the best or most sensible way: She took the easy way out, and told him she had to visit her mother that afternoon.

7 get off easy informal to escape severe punishment for something that you have done wrong: I thought I was in deep trouble, but I got off easy.

8 easy money money that you do not have to work hard to get

9 I'm easy spoken used to say that you do not mind what choice is made: “Would you rather go out for a Chinese or an Indian meal?” “Oh, I'm easy.”

10 that's easy for you to say spoken used when someone has given you some advice that would be difficult for you to follow

11 be on easy street informal, especially AmE to be in a situation in which you have plenty of money: They're on easy street now that he's inherited his aunt's money.

12 on easy terms BrE if you buy something on easy terms, you pay for it with several small payments instead of paying the whole amount at once

13 SEX informal someone, especially a woman, who is easy has a lot of sexual partners

14 a woman of easy virtue old-fashioned a woman who has sex with a lot of men

15 eggs over easy AmE eggs cooked on a hot surface and turned over quickly before serving

—see also: ease 1, easily 2 adverb

1 take it easy

a) also take things easy to relax and not do very much: The doctor says I'm going to have to take it easy for a few weeks.

b) spoken used to tell someone to become less upset or angry: Just take it easy and tell us what happened.

2 go easy on/with sth to not use too much of something: Go easy on that whiskey if you're driving!

3 go easy on sb 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.

4 rest/breathe easy to stop worrying: You can rest easy now - they've gone.

5 easy does it spoken used to tell someone to be careful, especially when they are moving something

6 easier said than done especially spoken used when it would be difficult to actually do what someone has suggested: I should treat Jim like any other client, but that's easier said than done.

7 stand easy a command telling soldiers who are already standing at ease (ease1 (6)) to relax more

8 easy come, easy go spoken used when something, especially money, was easily obtained and is quickly used or spent