ˈiːziər sed ðæn dʌn
General
neutral
beginner
- Literally:
- Easier to speak about than to accomplish
What does "easier said than done" mean?
- Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- An idea sounds simple but is hard to execute
Examples
- Losing weight is easier said than done.
- Finding a new job sounds easy, but it's easier said than done.
- I know I should quit smoking, but it's easier said than done.
Origin
Dating from the 16th century, this proverb acknowledges the gap between theoretical discussion and practical execution. It recognizes that many things seem simple until attempted.
How to use it
Very common expression acknowledging difficulty. Often used to temper enthusiasm for simple-sounding solutions.
Similar expressions
not as easy as it sounds
harder in practice
Opposites
easy to do
straightforward
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
- rule of thumb
A practical principle or guideline
Use it in a practice answer
Try "easier said than done" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.