Cakewalk

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkeɪk.wɔk/

Definitions

1. A task or activity that is very easy to do or accomplish ; a type of dance featuring a rhythmic, strutting style that originated among African Americans
2. Something requiring little effort or difficulty to complete ; a traditional dance characterized by a lively, graceful step pattern
3. An undertaking that presents minimal challenge or exertion ; a historical dance form known for its smooth, walking movements and social performance

Etymology: The cakewalk started as a dance, not a pastry. Enslaved people on Southern plantations held dance competitions in which they parodied the formal ballroom dances of their enslavers, exaggerating the stiff, elaborate steps into something sharper and more theatrical. The slaveowners apparently found these contests entertaining, and the prize for the best dancer may have been a cake, a habit that gave the dance its name. After the Civil War the dance developed into an African-American social form, danced at gatherings with cake again going to the finest performers. Minstrel shows then popularised it for white audiences, stripping away much of its satirical edge. The modern sense of an easy task comes from the dancers' skill. Doing the cakewalk well demanded real virtuosity, but the best performers made it look effortless, and that apparent ease gave rise to the idiom "as easy as a cakewalk". The meaning of something easy followed from that phrase.

Synonyms: breeze, walkover, easy task, piece of cake, cinch

Antonyms: challenge, struggle, difficulty, hardship, trial