doddle
noun

- a very easy task

- something easily accomplished

Oxford Dictionary, Collins English Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

The word "doddle" first appeared in British English in the mid-20th century, meaning something very easy to do.

It may have originated from northern English dialect words related to "dodder" (to walk unsteadily) or "dawdle" (to waste time). Some sources suggest "doddle" may have been early horse racing slang, referring to a race that was easily won (a walkover).

Like "toddle" or "doodle," the soft, reduplicated sound gives it a light, easy-going feel, reinforcing its meaning.

Today, "doddle" is widely used in British English, often in phrases like “It’s a doddle” (meaning it’s really easy). It remains colloquial and informal, often found in everyday speech rather than formal writing.

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DOUBLE-D ‘O’ WORDS

How many do you know?

- noddle = the head or mind (Use your noddle to avoid mistakes)

- coddle (1) = to treat someone in an overprotective way (He was coddled as a child)

- coddle (2) = cook an egg below the boiling point (Would you like your eggs scrambled, fried, or coddled?)

- doodle (3) = to draw or sketch aimlessly (He has this annoying habit of doodling all the time during staff meetings)

- dodder = to move unsteadily or tremblingly (After a long day of hiking, she doddered happily into camp)

- plodder = a person who works in a slow, persevering manner (He may not be the fastest, but he's a reliable plodder who always gets the job done)

- fodder = food for livestock (The farmer stored hay as winter fodder for the cattle)

- sodden = thoroughly soaked or saturated (After the downpour, their clothes were sodden and heavy)

- shoddy = of poor quality or inferior workmanship (The contractor's shoddy work led to numerous complaints)

- oddity = something that is strange or peculiar (The antique shop was full of oddities from various eras)

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SYNONYMS

(as) easy as pie, a breeze, a cakewalk, a cinch, A DODDLE, a downhill coast, a picnic, a piece of cake, a pushover, a snap, a stroll (walk) in the park, a sure thing, a walk in the park, a walkover, as easy as ABC (anything, falling off a log, pie), at the push of a button, at the stroke of a pen, can do it blindfolded (in my sleep, standing on my head, with one hand tied behind my back), child's play, easy peasy, easy-peasy lemon squeezy, effortless, elementary, kids' stuff, like a sunday drive (shooting ducks/fish in a barrel), like taking candy from a baby, money for old rope, no big deal (brainer, problem, sweat), no-brainer, not rocket science, nothing to it, open and shut, painless, painting by numbers, plain sailing, pushover, smooth sailing, with your eyes closed (shut)

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“Cooking pasta is a DODDLE—unless you forget the water.”

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