child's play

noun

1
: an extremely simple task or act
2
: something that is insignificant
figuring out the password was child's play

Examples of child's play in a Sentence

Landing a job should be child's play for someone with his skills. the injury is child's play, just a scratch
Recent Examples on the Web Suddenly that Pantone-perfect bouncy house is looking a little like, well, child's play. Leena Kim, Town & Country, 18 July 2023 Kate figuring out how to stop World War III with a clear head and a little seduction on The Diplomat is child's play compared to what Claire Danes subjected herself to as CIA agent Carrie Mathison in Homeland. Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 6 May 2023 Is my child's play concerning? Alia Wong, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2021 This isn't child's play, this is my child. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 14 Aug. 2012 Once the foundation is laid and the ground floor constructed, the rest of the process will, in a way, resemble child's play. Breanna Draxler, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2013 Up next is a croquet game that makes the Bridgertons' Pall Mall antics seem like child's play, with Gemma forcing one of the staff to use his body as a hoop. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 9 Feb. 2023 Don't let the word baby fool you; this peel isn't child's play. Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, 27 Jan. 2023 Not child's play Richard Turere, inventor, at TED2013. Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2013

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'child's play.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of child's play was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near child's play

Cite this Entry

“Child's play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/child%27s%20play. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

child's play

noun
: something that is very easy to do or is unimportant
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