easy option
soft option BrE

Probation should in no sense be seen as a soft option by the judiciary.

So often in my life, where I've made a mistake, it has been by taking the soft option.

Whenever there's a choice people always go for the soft option.

This was no soft option, for pleasure can be cruel.

Clinicians often see health services research as the soft option and easy to carry out.

But those who still believe in soft options really do need drugs.

The care is better than in prison but it's not a soft option.

Where safety is concerned, we should never take the soft option.

And suddenly, with him in front of you, this didn't seem like the soft option.

The concern is that it's a soft option for criminals.