easy ◆◆◆ /iː zi/ (easier , easiest )
1 ADJ [ADJ to-inf] If a job or action is easy , you can do it without difficulty or effort, because it is not complicated and causes no problems. □ The shower is easy to install. □ This is not an easy task. ● easi|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ Dress your child in layers of clothes you can remove easily.
2 ADJ If you describe an action or activity as easy , you mean that it is done in a confident, relaxed way. If someone is easy about something, they feel relaxed and confident about it. □ He was an easy person to talk to. □ …when you are both feeling a little easier about the break up of your relationship. ● easi|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ They talked amiably and easily about a range of topics.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you say that someone has an easy life, you mean that they live comfortably without any problems or worries. □ She has not had an easy life.
4 ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ to-inf] If you say that something is easy or too easy , you are criticizing someone because they have done the most obvious or least difficult thing, and have not considered the situation carefully enough. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ That's easy for you to say. □ It was all too easy to believe it.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe someone or something as easy prey or as an easy target , you mean that they can easily be attacked or criticized. □ Tourists have become easy prey. □ Leaders are easy targets for critics, because they have visibility.
6 PHRASE If you tell someone to go easy on something, you are telling them to use only a small amount of it. [INFORMAL ] □ Go easy on the alcohol.
7 PHRASE If you tell someone to go easy on , or be easy on , a particular person, you are telling them not to punish or treat that person very severely. [INFORMAL ] □ 'Go easy on him,' Sam repeated, opening the door.
8 PHRASE If someone tells you to take it easy or take things easy , they mean that you should relax and not do very much at all. [INFORMAL ] □ It is best to take things easy for a week or two.
9 → see also easily SYNONYMS easy ADJ 1
simple: The job itself had been simple enough.
straightforward: Disposable nappies are fairly straightforward to put on.
effortless: …effortless and elegant Italian cooking.
ea sy chair (easy chairs ) N‑COUNT An easy chair is a large, comfortable padded chair.
ea sy-go ing ADJ If you describe someone as easy-going , you mean that they are not easily annoyed, worried, or upset, and you think this is a good quality. [APPROVAL ] □ He was easy-going and good-natured.
ea sy li s|ten|ing N‑UNCOUNT Easy listening is gentle, relaxing music. Some people do not like this kind of music because they do not think that it is very interesting or exciting. □ …an easy listening version of a rock anthem.
eat ◆◆◇ /iː t/ (eats , eating , ate , eaten )
1 VERB When you eat something, you put it into your mouth, chew it, and swallow it. □ [V n] She was eating a sandwich. □ [V ] We took our time and ate slowly.
2 VERB If you eat sensibly or healthily, you eat food that is good for you. □ [V adv] …a campaign to persuade people to eat more healthily.
3 VERB If you eat , you have a meal. □ [V ] Let's go out to eat. □ [V n] We ate lunch together a few times.
4 VERB [only cont] If something is eating you, it is annoying or worrying you. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] 'What the hell's eating you?' he demanded.
5 PHRASE If you have someone eating out of your hand , they are completely under your control. □ She usually has the press eating out of her hand.
6 to have your cake and eat it → see cake
7 dog eat dog → see dog
8 to eat humble pie → see humble
▸ eat away PHRASAL VERB If one thing eats away another or eats away at another, it gradually destroys or uses it up. □ [V P n] Rot is eating away the interior of the house. □ [V P + at ] The recession is eating away at their revenues. [Also V n P ]
▸ eat into
1 PHRASAL VERB If something eats into your time or your resources, it uses them, when they should be used for other things. □ [V P n] Responsibilities at home and work eat into his time.
2 PHRASAL VERB If a substance such as acid or rust eats into something, it destroys or damages its surface. □ [V P n] Ulcers occur when the stomach's natural acids eat into the lining of the stomach.
▸ eat up
1 PHRASAL VERB When you eat up your food, you eat all of it. □ [V P n] Eat up your lunch. □ [V n P ] Some seed fell along the footpath, and the birds came and ate it up.
2 PHRASAL VERB If something eats up money, time, or resources, it uses them or consumes them in great quantities. □ [V P n] Health insurance costs are eating up his income. SYNONYMS eat VERB 1
consume: …serving chocolate ice-creams for the children to consume in the kitchen.
swallow: You are asked to swallow a capsule containing vitamin B.
devour: She devoured half an apple pie.
polish off: No matter what he is offered to eat he polishes it off in an instant. COLLOCATIONS eat VERB 1