The French idiom "C'est pas la mer à boire" explained

On this page, we are going to explain you all the things you ever wanted to know about the funny expression "C'est pas la mer à boire". To be clear, it includes a detailed explanation of what it is and how to use it in a normal conversation with an audio example.Additionally, we also added useful things like synonyms, dialogue example, slow pronunciation audio and more!

Translation in English

Translation : I'm not asking the impossible
Literal meaning : It's not the sea to drink
Register : Informal - Funny

How to pronounce?

Slow

Normal

IPA : / sɛ pa la mɛʁ a bwaʁ /

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What does it mean?

Definition

C'est → It is
pas → not
la mer → the sea
à boire → to drink

I don't know for you, but for me drinking the whole sea sounds, at least, like an extraordinarily laborious task... The expression "C'est pas la mer à boire" helps to put things in perspective.

Whatever you are trying to do, it's not as difficult as drinking the sea. That's why we use it when talking about something very simple, easy or obvious, to make the comparison clear.

How to use

Well, when it comes to using this expression: "C'est pas la mer à boire" (It's not as difficult as drinking the sea).

Simply replace any mention of "It's super easy" or "It's really simple/obvious" by "C'est pas la mer à boire" and you are done.

Synonyms

C'est pas compliqué. ("It's not complicated")
C'est très simple. ("It's super simple")
C'est bête comme chou. ("It's stupid like cabbage")
C'est enfantin. ("It's childish")
C'est simple comme tout. ("It's as simple as everything")
C'est simple comme Baptiste. ("It's as simple as Baptiste")(French name)
C'est du gâteau. ("It's cake")

Example in a dialogue

Dialogue

C'est dur d'apprendre le Français ?

Is it hard to learn French?

Non. C'est pas la mer à boire

No. It's not the sea to drink*

Je commence aujourd'hui alors !

I'm starting right now then!