the life of Riley
Meaning: The good life; a comfortable life.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Since he retired to the coast, he's been living the life of Riley.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: American English from the early 20th century, of uncertain origin. It is often linked to songs of the 1880s and 1910s about a Mr. Reilly or Riley living in comfort, and a 1919 song, "My Name Is Kelly," includes the line about living the life of Reilly. The phrase was later popularized by the radio and TV series The Life of Riley (1940s–50s).
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Rouler carrosse — literally: To roll a carriage
More idioms — Daily Life
- the lion's share — The greater part; most.
- live and let live — To live without interference from other; to not interfere with the lives of others.
- lock, stock and barrel — Everything; the entirety.
- the long and short of it — The outcome; the point.
- look sharp — To look neat and stylish; also, to hurry or be alert.
- lose one's cool — To become angry.
More English idioms
- look like death warmed over — To look/feel ill or exhausted.
- lose one's temper — To become suddenly angry. To hold one's temper means to remain calm when irritated.
- low man on the totem pole — The person of lowest rank.
- make a clean breast of it — To admit and explain some wrongdoing; to confess something.
- make a long story short — To summarize; to tell only the main points.
- make ends meet — To manage financially; to have enough money for one's basic needs.
From our compliments & insults
- Faulpelz — A lazybones — someone who lounges around and avoids any effort, as warm and inert as a fu…
- Griesgram — A perpetual grump who radiates dissatisfaction and sucks the joy out of every room.
- Pantoffelheld — A man who is only bold and brave at home — a henpecked pushover who bluster turns into a…