path of least resistance
7
3.9
- noun
- Informal
:
camino de menor resistencia
- Meemaw knew lots of stories about people who "took the path of least resistance" and ended up sick or poor.
- follow the path of least resistance
- take the path of least resistance
It's just the path of least resistance for each person.
- It's just the path of least resistance for each person.
- Your mind will always choose the path of least resistance.
- Well, it's hard and our default position is to take the path of least resistance about what is easy, you know.
- And sometimes the path of least resistance is a great path and it works and everything's going well.
- So rather the path of least resistance, unfortunately, can be social isolation and and more screen time.
- And if you follow the path of least resistance, you'll find that you're optimizing for short periods of time.
- And I think it's critical that people realize that growth is always going to come with some discomfort, and that's where the path of least resistance comes in.
- I think it's always the case, or most often the case that there are that the path of least resistance is to embrace and act in accordance with societal convention.
Examples
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He decided to follow the path of least resistance and avoid conflict during the discussion.
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Like rivers, they meander because that is the path of least resistance.
Fiction book (1999) -
It's just the path of least resistance for each person.
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How much I like the path of least resistance.
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I think that faith is the path of least resistance.
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Well, sometimes it"s easier to take the path of least resistance.
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You know the path of least resistance?
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A bull market begins, and the path of least resistance is higher.
Blog text (30) -
Most people take the path of least resistance and go with the herd.
Blog text (21) -
Friendships can be hard, and the path of least resistance is so easy to follow.
Blog text (11)
Synonyms
An easy choice that avoids trouble or argument
An easier choice people make to avoid hard work or trouble
How Easy
122
1.6
- Informal
7
3.9
28
2.7
258
4.2
- Informal
76
5.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
path + of + least + resistance
The phrase literally combines 'path' (route) with 'least' (smallest amount) and 'resistance' (opposition), so a learner can infer it means the route with the least opposition — i.e., the easiest option. This metaphorical mapping is common across many languages (e.g. French, Spanish, Portuguese) and follows a straightforward compositional logic accessible to a B1 learner who knows the constituents.
Etymology
Path of least resistance comes from a simple picture: imagine water flowing and taking the easiest path around rocks, where it meets the least resistance. That's why the phrase means 'the easiest way' or choosing to avoid trouble.