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An idiom to describe something that takes less effort

English Language & Usage Asked by Grease on July 25, 2021

If I wanted to say that something takes one-tenth of the time, I’d say it is 10 times faster. Is there a similar way to describe something that takes one-tenth of the effort? I’m looking for something better than 10 times easier.

I’m trying to come up with a comparative adjective form to indicate that an automated process requires 10 times less effort than a manual process, which typically takes hundreds of hours. Here’s an example usage:

This new product makes security compliance 10 times _______.

All synonyms of easy I found seem to suggest unchallenging, effortless, or facile. I was looking for something that was closer to "gives more leverage".

One Answer

I think you’re on the right track with leverage here:

leverage, n.
2. b. figurative. Advantage for accomplishing a purpose; increased power of action.
Source: Oxford English Dictionary (login required)

Leverage multiplies force. The effectiveness of leverage in multiplying force is called efficiency:

efficiency, n.
2. a. Fitness or power to accomplish, or success in accomplishing, the purpose intended; adequate power, effectiveness, efficacy.
Source: Oxford English Dictionary (login required)

Your product employs the efficiency of leverage.

So your product makes security compliance ten times more efficient.

It offers ten times the efficiency of other products.

You can see some usage examples from the Corpus of Contemporary American English.

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See also: Simple Machines, IMA, AMA and Efficiency and Resource Information for Teaching Simple Machines

 

Correct answer by Tinfoil Hat on July 25, 2021

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