Like shooting fish in a barrel

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Meaning

Extremely easy because the target or task offers almost no challenge. It can imply that the advantage is excessive or unfair.

Origin

The expression is American. A comparison involving 'shooting fish in a barrel' appears in an 1898 Kansas newspaper, although that example may refer to naval bombardment rather than ease. An unambiguous figurative example meaning very easy is documented in a New Orleans newspaper in 1902. The image is self-explanatory: fish confined in a barrel cannot escape. There is no evidence that a named fairground game or radio personality coined the phrase.

Research Sources

  1. meaning and early instances of the phrase 'like shooting fish in a barrel' Word Histories

Variants

  • Shooting fish in a barrel
  • As easy as shooting fish in a barrel

Usage Examples

  • Once the spreadsheet was sorted correctly, finding the duplicate invoices was like shooting fish in a barrel.
  • Mocking beginners for simple mistakes is like shooting fish in a barrel.
  • The champions overwhelmed the amateur side, but the match soon felt like shooting fish in a barrel.

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