Cakewalk

[Stevenloan]

A: What was your favorite 90s sitcom/series and why? (Friends, shows, fan). My two favs were That 70s Show... and Are You Afraid of the Dark. I soo wish I could be a kid again, life was a cakewalk.

B: Due to step kids, I watched a ton of Fresh Prince, and Saved by the Bell. I really wasn't much of a 90s sitcom fan in general, but I would catch bits and pieces of various shows.

- Hi everyone! I Googled and "cakewalk" has two meanings "1. an absurdly or surprisingly easy task. 2. a dancing contest among African Americans in which a cake was awarded as a prize.". Which meaning fits better in this case?

Thanks a lot!

StevenLoan

[trolley]

In this case, they are referring to definition # 1. I was a little confused when I read that second definition. I had no idea about the African American connection to "cake walk". I have ever only known it as a children's game played at carnivals, picnics or community gatherings. Kids would walk around in a circle, stepping on numbered squares as music was played. When the music stopped, the children stopped and a random number was drawn from a hat. If that number corresponded to a number that a child was standing on, they won a cake. That's how easy it was. The cake walk performed on American plantations seems to have been more of a contest and doesn't sound particularly easy. It seems an odd expression...but it is still pretty common. A similar expression, with a similar meaning is to say that something is "a piece of cake".

[Stevenloan]

trolley : Thank you very much for your help. I really appreciate it.

StevenLoan

[Bobinwales]

Have a look here

[BonnieL]

Thanks, Bob, for the link. In the 60s a cake walk was just the simple game that Trolley described. I was an adult before I found out it's origins & this is the first time I've seen it.

[Stevenloan]

Bob : Thanks very much for the link. Enjoy your weekend.

StevenLoan