1.
a piece of cake, a cinch, easy task
Something so easy it can be done before breakfast. Used to describe tasks that require minimal effort.
こんなの朝飯前だ。
This is a piece of cake.
彼にとってはこの仕事は朝飯前だろう。
This job is probably a cinch for him.
自転車のパンク修理なんて朝飯前だと言って、すぐに直してくれた。
He said fixing a flat tire on a bike was a piece of cake and fixed it right away.
ETYMOLOGY:
Literally "before breakfast" (朝飯前). The idea is that the task is so simple it can be finished even before eating the morning meal.
USAGE:
Most commonly used as a predicate with だ: 〜は朝飯前だ. Carries a confident, sometimes boastful tone. Tends to be used in informal speech.
Note that 飯 is an informal word for "meal/rice," which gives this expression a casual flavor.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 〜なんて朝飯前だ: something like ~ is a piece of cake
- 〜は朝飯前だろう: ~ is probably a cinch