like shelling peas

like shelling peas

Especially easy or intuitive. I was worried that the chemistry class would be too hard, but it was like shelling peas in the end.
See also: like, pea, shell
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • (as) easy as shelling peas
  • be (as) easy as one-two-three
  • be (as) easy as rolling off (of) a log
  • be (as) easy as falling off (of) a log
  • be (as) easy as pie
  • easy as pie
  • (as) easy as pie
  • be (as) easy as ABC
  • (as) easy as winking
  • as easy as winking
References in periodicals archive
"The way he took his chance, it was like shelling peas. It was so natural to him."
Easy peasy for United match-winner Javier
The Sun quoted Fergie, as saying: "When he takes a chance it is like shelling peas to him.
Fergie declares 'Little Pea' Hernandez a Man U star
MY WEEKPunting high It was like shelling peas on Sunday thanks to Open De l'Isle, Of Course and Catch Bob Punting low It was like mining for diamonds on Saturday as hefty bets on Binocular and Cappa Bleu meant that even Sunday's profits couldn't rescue the week The Denman debate He's undoubtedly back to his best and he beat Kauto Star by seven lengths in the Gold Cup when in such form in 2008 - let's hope the 9-4 is still available in March
MY WEEKPunting
While lying in the bath the other night, I was mulling over the "like shelling peas" expression (once you've scrubbed your pits and played with your rubber duck for a few minutes, there's not a lot left to do in a bath situation, is there?), and I came to the conclusion that it is an absurdity.
"Like shelling peas" is supposed to be a fancy way of saying "easy".
Shelling peas must be second only to shelling sand in the difficulty stakes, so why has the "like shelling peas" analogy been applied in the English language to simple tasks?
PICK OF THE DAY; Dynamo Kiev v Man United ITV1, 7.30pm