cakewalk

In modern usage, cakewalk refers to an accomplishment that is surprisingly easy or a victory achieved with little effort. The term originated in the mid-19th century, referring to a promenade or dance competition performed by enslaved African Americans on plantations. In these events, couples would perform intricate steps—often satirizing the stiff, formal ballroom dancing of white plantation owners—and the winning couple would be awarded a cake.

The term is contested due to this historical connection to slavery and its subsequent popularization in minstrel shows, which often relied on racist caricatures. Those who avoid the term argue that its roots in the performance of enslaved people—sometimes for the amusement of their enslavers—make it inappropriate for casual speech. Conversely, many speakers view the term as harmless, arguing that the idiom has undergone semantic drift; for them, the word evokes the pleasantness of cake and the concept of an easy walk, completely disconnected from the historical specificities of the antebellum South.

Example:

"After studying for weeks, the certification test turned out to be a total cakewalk."

"Don't expect the negotiations to be a cakewalk; the other side is very prepared."