child's play / children's game
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child's play
A task or activity that is perceived as very easy and effortless to manage.
Mit der neuen Software ist die Videobearbeitung ein echtes Kinderspiel geworden.
With the new software, video editing has become real child's play.
children's game
A game that is typically played by children and often has simple rules.
Fangen und Verstecken sind klassische Kinderspiele für draußen.
Tag and hide-and-seek are classic children's games for outdoors.
The word is made up of 'Kinder' (children, plural of 'Kind') and 'Spiel' (game/play). The figurative meaning 'easy task' derives from the literal meaning 'game for children', since such games are usually very easy for adults.
Für einen Profi ist diese Reparatur ein Kinderspiel.
For a professional, this repair is child's play.
You can tell from the context whether the literal or figurative meaning is intended. If it is about a task or a problem, it is the figurative meaning. The plural form 'Kinderspiele' almost always refers to actual games.
Die Prüfung war ein Kinderspiel. (einfache Aufgabe)
The exam was child's play. (easy task)
In the figurative meaning, 'Kinderspiel' (child's play) is very often used with the verb 'sein' (to be) to express that something is easy. The structure is then: [Something] ist (k)ein Kinderspiel ([Something] is/isn't child's play).
Dank der Anleitung war die Montage des Regals ein Kinderspiel.
Thanks to the instructions, assembling the shelf was child's play.
walk
Spaziergang and Kinderspiel can both describe a task that is easy to manage. Spaziergang is usually used in the expression „kein Spaziergang sein“ (“to be no walk in the park”) and emphasizes that something is more strenuous than expected. Kinderspiel, by contrast, directly describes a task as very easy.
Mit dem großen Aufzug war der Umzug in den vierten Stock ein Kinderspiel.
With the large elevator, moving to the fourth floor was child's play.
Der Umzug in den vierten Stock war kein Spaziergang.
Moving to the fourth floor was no walk in the park.
