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easy

easy

76 8.1
A person others can easily trick
  • adjective
  • /ˈiːzi/
  • Informal
translation icon : ingenuo
  • And the reason for that, in my opinion, is that it makes you very easy to manipulate, very predictable.
  • easy prey
  • an easy target
  • an easy mark

You know, in science, as Feynman said, the easiest person to fool is yourself.

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Examples

  • No wonder you people were so easy to conquer.

  • "But he was funny anyway, and easy prey for George's wicked sense of humor.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • But I was an American woman, living alone, and therefore an easy target.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Maybe that is why we are such easy prey.

  • Narcissists are actually really, really easy to trick, if you will.

  • Don't you constantly question your value - like why was I so easy to cast aside?

    Fiction book (1999)
  • If any of Wild Bob's friends had still been around, I would have been easy pickings.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Don't become easy prey over such trivial matters.

  • His kind demeanor made him easy to deceive, as he always trusted people too quickly.

  • Because she is so trusting, others often see her as easy prey for their dishonest schemes.

Synonyms

gullible
vseasy
65 4.2

Easily persuaded to believe things that are not true

is more generally vulnerable to exploitation because lacking ability or will to defend

Antonyms

210 2.9

Careful to avoid risk or mistakes

4.9

Careful about showing feelings or strong opinions to avoid saying too much

Idioms

Simple and clear so most people can know what it means quickly

easy on the eyes
  • Informal
10 3.9

Pleasant or attractive to look at

Simple to understand and do

easy does it
  • Informal
8 6.0

Move slowly and carefully to avoid mistakes or accidents

easy as pie
  • Informal
4 1.7

Very easy to do with little skill

3 9.1

Saying advice is easy when you are not in the same situation

easy time of it
  • Informal
1 1.7

A situation that is not difficult and needs little effort

5.3

Do not be upset when something you get easily is lost

Compounds

34 3.5

A person or thing people attack and take advantage of because it is weak

23 1.0

A way to reach or get something quickly and without difficulty

9 2.3

A large comfortable chair with arms and soft cushions for relaxing

easy mark
  • Offensive
9 7.1

A person others can easily trick or cheat

easy money
  • Informal
8 3.2

Money someone earns with little work

easy street
  • Informal
3 5.1

A situation when a person has enough money and no money problems

free-and-easy
  • Informal
2 5.7

Relaxed and friendly without following strict rules

easy-breezy
  • Informal
1 6.1

Simple and relaxed, not difficult or serious

1 3.7

A time when loans are easy to get because interest rates are low

Pleasant and smooth to drink, not strong in taste

How Gullible

easy
  • Informal
76 8.1
gullible
65 4.2
naive
312 4.1
trusting
12 2.1
suspicious
138 3.2
cautious
210 2.9

Surface Forms

easy positive
easier comparative
easiest superlative

Morphology

easy = ease (semi-transparent) = ease + y

The sense 'readily exploited or tricked' is derived from 'easy to (be) X' constructions and is a figurative/pragmatic extension of 'not difficult'.

Etymology

Easy comes from Old English ēaþe meaning 'simple' and is related to ease, so an 'easy' person in this sense is someone who seems 'easy to trick' or 'easy to take advantage of'.