- An informal expression meaning It's not difficult, It's no problem, or You're welcome.
- Used to minimize the effort involved in a task, either when agreeing to do it or after being thanked for it.
Explanation
Origin
- American English slang, likely emerging around the mid-20th century.
- The imagery is that the task was so easy it didn't cause the speaker to sweat (i.e., exert significant physical or mental effort).
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- No prob / N.P.
- Easy peasy (lemon squeezy)
- Piece of cake
- A doddle (UK) / A cinch / A breeze
- All good (Aus/NZ) / No worries (Aus/NZ/UK)
- Bet (US slang for okay/sure/no problem)
Vulgar/Emphatic (Dismissing difficulty):
- Fuckin' easy / Easy as shit / Piss easy (UK/Aus)
- Dead easy (UK/Aus)
Milder/Standard (As You're welcome):
- No problem
- You're welcome
- Certainly / Of course
- Not at all / Don't mention it
- It's no trouble / It was no trouble at all
- My pleasure
Milder/Standard (As It's easy):
- No problem
- It's simple / It's straightforward
- Not difficult at all
- Easily done
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal.
- Very common in everyday casual conversation.
- Generally acceptable in most informal and semi-formal spoken contexts.
- Might be considered slightly too informal for very formal interactions, where You're welcome, Certainly, or It's no trouble might be preferred.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Generally well-understood. The key is that it downplays difficulty or obligation. Ensure the tone remains friendly and not dismissive of the person making the request or offering thanks.
Examples
As You're welcome:
- Thanks so much for lending me your notes! No sweat.
As It's easy / No problem:
- Can you fix this bug by lunchtime? Yeah, no sweat.
- Is it hard to assemble this? Nah, no sweat.
Dialogue
Person A: Hey, sorry to bother you, but could you possibly proofread this email quickly?
Person B: Sure thing, send it over. No sweat.
Person A: Awesome, thanks heaps!
Social Media Examples
- Reply to a 'thank you' comment: @[Username] No sweat! Glad I could help.
- Tweet: Someone asked if I could quickly explain [topic]. Yeah, no sweat, here's a thread...
Response Patterns
- If used as You're welcome: Thanks again!, I really appreciate it., Cool, thanks.
- If used as It's easy: Oh, great!, Awesome, thanks!, Are you sure? That's a relief.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Expressing further gratitude.
- Confirming the ease (Really? That quickly?).
- Moving on with the conversation or task.
Conversation Starter
- No.
- It's a response to a request, an expression of thanks, or a comment on task difficulty.
Intonation
- Casual, relaxed, often slightly dismissive (of the difficulty, not the person).
- Usually fairly level intonation, perhaps slight stress on SWEAT. Nah, no SWEAT.
Generation Differences
- Widely used and understood across most generations, perhaps slightly more prevalent among younger to middle-aged speakers but familiar to almost everyone.
Regional Variations
- Originated in American English but is now very common and well-understood in most other English-speaking regions (UK, Aus, NZ, Canada, etc.). Often used interchangeably with no problem or no worries.