IdiomFood & Drink
Japanese
Japanese朝飯前 (Asameshi mae)
Meaning: A task so easy it can be done before eating.
Literally: Before breakfast
Example: “このくらいの修理なら朝飯前だ。” — A repair like this is a piece of cake.
English equivalent: A piece of cake
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: Ser pan comido Literally: To be eaten bread
Korean: 식은 죽 먹기 (Sigeun juk meokgi) Literally: Eating cold porridge
French: Les doigts dans le nez Literally: Fingers in the nose
Polish: Bułka z masłem Literally: A roll with butter- Korean: 누워서 떡 먹기 (nuwoseo tteok meokgi) Literally: Eating rice cake lying down
- Spanish: en dos patadas Literally: In two kicks
- Polish: prosty jak drut Literally: Straight as wire
English: a piece of cake- French: C'est du nanan Literally: It's nanan
- English: with one hand tied behind one's back
Origin: "Before breakfast": a task so easy one can finish it before the morning meal, on an empty stomach. It is the Japanese counterpart of "a piece of cake." No particular story lies behind it.
More Japanese idioms
- 二階から目薬 (Nikai kara megusuri) A roundabout effort that has no real effect.
- 喉から手が出る (Nodo kara te ga deru) To want something so badly you can hardly bear it.
- 月とすっぽん (Tsuki to suppon) Two things alike at a glance but worlds apart.
- 釘を刺す (kugi o sasu) To remind someone firmly so they can't back out.
- 顔から火が出る (kao kara hi ga deru) To burn with embarrassment.
- 一石二鳥 (Isseki nichō) Getting two results from a single action.
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