What does the term as easy as pie mean?

Answer 1

Meaning

Very easy.

Origin

There are many similes in English that have the form 'as X as Y' (see this list). These almost always highlight some property - X, and give an example of something that is well-known to display that property - Y. For example, 'as white as snow', 'as dead as a dodo' and, risking a group slander action from our noble friends, 'as drunk as a lord'.

How though, are pies thought to be easy? It seems that, while not being easy to make, pies are generally thought to be easy to eat. At least, that was the view in 19th century America, where this phrase was coined. There are various mid 19th century US citations that, whilst not using 'as easy as pie' verbatim, do point to 'pie' being used to denote pleasantry and ease. For example, the related phrase 'as nice as pie' was used in Which: Right or Left? in 1855:

"For nearly a week afterwards, the domestics observed significantly to each other, that Miss Isabella was as 'nice as pie!'"

In The Adventures Huckleberry Finn, 1884, Mark Twain twice uses 'pie' in that same context:

"You're always as polite as pie to them."

"So he took him to his own house, and dressed him up clean and nice,... and was just old pie to him, so to speak."

Pie was also used at that time for something that was easy to accomplish. For example, The US magazine Sporting Life, May 1886:

"As for stealing second and third, it's like eating pie."

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Answer 2

Very Easy.