cakewalk
Featured
Puzzle #221 · January 8, 2026
A cakewalk refers to some absurdly easy task because the modern carnival game of the same name allows someone to win a cake by simply walking around in a circle.
But the history of cakewalks, from slave plantations, to national competitions at Madison Square garden, is fascinating. Cakewalks were a way slaves could mock their masters through an elaborate dance. Read more in this article from NPR’s Codeswitch.
But the history of cakewalks, from slave plantations, to national competitions at Madison Square garden, is fascinating. Cakewalks were a way slaves could mock their masters through an elaborate dance. Read more in this article from NPR’s Codeswitch.
Puzzle Appearances
The expression cakewalk has appeared in 1 puzzle:
- Puzzle #221 on January 8, 2026
Rate of Appearance in English Language Print
Google's Ngram project shows how often a pair of words has appeared in print every year since the 1800's.
Data from Google Books Ngram Viewer. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.
Explore More Expressions
Everyday the Wordcels Puzzle has a featured expression showing meaning, history and connection to culture. Explore them all.
The Wordcels Puzzle
Think you've mastered Americanisms? The two-word phrases, compound words and idiomatic expressions of American English? Each day the Wordcels Puzzle provides 15 words that must be arranged to form 16 expressions. Give it a try.
