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The phrase came into common usage around the time of WWI. The first printed citation of ‘the life of Riley’ (with the easy/carefree meaning of the phrase) that I have found is from New Jersey newspaper The News, May 1910: Henry Mungersdorf is living the life of Riley just at present. Quotation marks are usually added to phrases that the ...
Origin of “The Life of Riley”. The phrase “life of a riley” was first used in the New Jersey newspaper, The News, published in 1910, where it is stated as; “Henry Mungersdorf is living the life of Riley just at present.”. Later, it was used by Sergeant Leonard in an extract, published in 1918, where he wrote, “that he and his pals ...
Living the life of Riley is an American phrase that first showed up in the early 1900s. It was from a New Jersey newspaper, The News, saying, “Henry Mungersdorf is living the life of Riley just at present.”. There were no quotation marks to imply the unfamiliarity of the expression. That means the life of Riley might have already been ...
Oct 11, 2024 · Here are examples of how “Life of Riley” is used: In retirement: “After winning the lottery, she’s been living the life of Riley, enjoying her new mansion and travels.”. In reference to someone’s lifestyle: “He’s always on vacation and never seems to work, living the life of Riley.”. In casual conversation: “With his new ...
Dec 22, 1999 · William and Mary Morris’ Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins says: There are several theories of the origin of this popular catch phrase which means, of course, to live luxuriously without working. One authority says it comes from a song of the 1880s, “Is that Mr Reilly?” popularized by Pat Rooney, founder of the great American ...
Oct 22, 2011 · Practical Exercises for the Idiom “life of Riley” Firstly, try using the idiom in a sentence. This can be done by imagining yourself or someone else living a life of luxury and ease. For example, “Ever since he won the lottery, John has been living the life of Riley.” Next, create a dialogue between two people using the idiom.
Apr 9, 2021 · 9 April 2021. To live the life of Riley (or Reilly) is to have a carefree and luxurious existence. But the Riley to which the phrase refers is a bit of mystery. We don’t know who he was or if it even refers to a specific person. There is one candidate who stands out from the rest, but his connection to the phrase is tenuous.
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