easier said than done

Idioms  

1. Also, more easily said than done. Describing something more readily talked about than accomplished, as in Keeping the cats off the sofa is easier said than done. This expression also was put as. Today, the variant (more easily) is still heard less often than the original. [c. 1450]

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

easier said than done

Building that sort of network is far easier said than done, requiring a lot of time and a lot of spectrum.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 25, 2026

"What I would have hoped for is winning the Premier League, winning the Champions League... easier said than done," he added.

From BBC ● May 13, 2026

That’s easier said than done — and if ignoring the market’s volatility is impossible, you should turn off the financial news altogether.

From MarketWatch ● May 2, 2026

For many nations -- particularly developing fossil fuel producers -- phasing out a major source of state revenue is easier said than done.

From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026

Without Smith there, of course, that was easier said than done.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• ambitious
• arduous
• burdensome
• challenging
• crucial
• demanding
• laborious
• onerous
• painful
• problematic
• severe
• strenuous
• tough
• troublesome