Wordxplr

The meaning and origin of interesting English phrases

Simple as pie

Meaning

This idiom means something is very easy to do, understand, or accomplish.

Origin

In the bustling kitchens of late 19th and early 20th-century America, pie wasn't just a dessert; it was a staple, a comforting end to any meal, often baked with simple ingredients and shared universally. The act of enjoying a slice was effortless, a moment of pure, unadulterated pleasure. This widespread familiarity and the sheer uncomplicated joy of consuming pie gave rise to the saying. If something was "simple as pie," it meant it was as straightforward and utterly agreeable as savoring that last bite of a delicious, homemade pastry—no fuss, no struggle, just sweet success.

Examples

  • Don't worry about assembling the new bookshelf, the instructions make it simple as pie.
  • Once you get the hang of it, solving that puzzle is simple as pie.
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