A piece of cake or what?

"Writing your own bestseller: a piece of cake or what?"

Could you please clarify what this title suggests? That writing one's own bestseller is indeed a piece of cake or rather otherwise?

Thanks,
Nyggus 8-)

a piece of cake - easy; not hard

Was that a piece of cake or what? - Was that pretty easy for you to do? It was really easy, wasn't it?

:-)

"Or what" is a New York-ism. It's used to push for action:

Are you going to eat that, or what?
Are you getting out of the car, or what?

...or to affirm agreement:

Was that a great movie, or what?
Are we drunk, or what?

So in "A piece of cake or what?" the or what is not a question. It's a way of affirming that writing a best seller is, indeed, a piece of cake.

Many people outside the New York area think it sounds rude. New Yorkers don't.

It's closely related to the expression of impatience will ya?

"What time is it?"
"Three twenty."
"What time is it now?"
"Three twenty-three."
"What time is it now?"
"It's three twenty-six, will ya?"

"Or what" isn't always used to indicate impatience. Quite often it's used to add emphasis, or a sense of incredulity, to a statement.

"Was that an amazing fireworks display or what?"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ouisch

"Or what" isn't always used to indicate impatience. Quite often it's used to add emphasis, or a sense of incredulity, to a statement.

"Was that an amazing fireworks display or what?"

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I could have said that, but I left it for you. Was that good of me or what?
;-)