with one hand tied behind one's back
Meaning: Very easily; or, when forced on someone, at a great disadvantage.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “She could solve these puzzles with one hand tied behind her back.”
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: A boast of easy superiority — I could beat you even handicapped — also used the other way, of someone forced to work at a disadvantage. No first use has been traced.
Other ways to say this
- 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: To do it with fingers in the nose
- Polish: Bułka z masłem — literally: A roll with butter
- Japanese: 朝飯前 (Asameshi mae) — literally: Before breakfast
- 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
More idioms — Body & Senses
- have a heart of gold — To be very kind and generous.
- get back on one's feet — To recover after an illness or a setback.
- not sleep a wink — To not sleep at all.
- welcome with open arms — To greet or accept someone with great warmth and enthusiasm.
- count on the fingers of one hand — To be very few in number, five or fewer.
- give someone an earful — To scold someone at length, or tell them angrily what one thinks.
More English idioms
- have friends in high places — To know influential people who can help one.
- get to the bottom of it — To discover the real cause or truth of a matter.
- be taken for a ride — To be cheated or deceived.
- have a short fuse — To lose one's temper easily.
- be full of beans — To be lively and full of energy.
- not to give a hoot — Not to care at all.
From our proverbs
- As long lives a merry heart as a sad. — A cheerful disposition doesn't shorten lifespan, so choosing joy over sorrow serves your…
- Mettle is dangerous in a blind horse. — A horse without sight cannot safely channel its spirited strength, making boldness reckle…
- Milk which will not be made into butter must be made into cheese. — When one path to profit closes, resourcefulness demands you pursue an alternative use for…