cakewalk

American  

[keyk-wawk] / ˈkeɪkˌwɔk /

noun

1. (formerly) a promenade or march, of Black American origin, in which the couples with the most intricate or eccentric steps received cakes as prizes.

2. a dance with a strutting step based on this promenade.

3. music for this dance.

4. Informal. something easy, sure, or certain.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to walk or dance in or as if in a cakewalk.

cakewalk British  

/ ˈkeɪkˌwɔːk /

noun

1. a dance based on a march with intricate steps, originally performed by African-Americans with the prize of a cake for the best performers

2. a piece of music composed for this dance

3. informal an easily accomplished task

---

verb

1. (intr) to perform the cakewalk

Other Word Forms

• cakewalker noun

Etymology

Origin of cakewalk

First recorded in 1860–65; cake + walk

Example Sentences

A cheer rises up, and then, over the phonograph, the steady thrum of a cakewalk.

From Literature

Nonetheless, the U.S. insisted leading up to Thursday that the rematch wouldn’t be a cakewalk.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ireland were hanging on by their fingernails, before a second-half rally threatened to turn a cakewalk into a contest.

From Barron's

If this is to be a series to be remembered - rather than a forgettable cakewalk - then the Wallabies have to make it so.

From BBC

In the last 18 minutes, the visitors scored three unanswered tries - all converted - to turn a cakewalk into a struggle for the Scots, whose edge blunted incredibly in the second half.

From BBC

Related Words

• cinch