2006-10-22 00:47:48 · 12 answers · asked by a s 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
"Living the life of Riley" suggests an ideal life of prosperity and contentment, possibly living on someone else's money, time or work. Rather than a negative freeloading or golddigging aspect, it instead implies that someone is kept or advantaged. The expression was popular in the 1880s, a time when James Whitcomb Riley's poems depicted the comforts of a prosperous home life , but it could have an Irish origin: After the Riley clan consolidated its hold on County Cavan, they minted their own money, accepted as legal tender even in England. These coins, called “O'Reillys” and “Reilly's,” became synonymous with a monied person, and a gentleman freely spending was “living on his Reillys.”
2006-10-22 00:59:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The life of Riley was a television show. The phrase means having a good stress-free life.
2006-10-22 17:27:16 · answer #2 · answered by Bethany 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who Riley was isn't very clear. There was a 1880's music-hall song about the good life of O'Reilly and later a 1919 song :
'Faith and my name is Kelly, Michael Kelly
but I'm living the life of Riley just the same'.
2006-10-22 07:58:21 · answer #3 · answered by solstice 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BETHANY - yes 'The Life of Riley' was a television show back in the 1950s but that isn't where the expression came from.
2006-10-23 07:54:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Life of Riley: expression used from 1910s onwards, first known use is from "My name is Kelly" (1919) Written by H Pease. The relevant line runs thus: "Faith and my name is Kelly Michael Kelly, But I'm living the life of Reilly just the same".
Hope this helps
2006-10-22 08:47:32 · answer #5 · answered by Goblinguard 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think its life of old riley probably from old mrs riley films in the 40's
2006-10-22 07:51:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is said that this expression originated in the 1880s from a song called, "Is that Mr. Reilly?". The song contained lyrics such as "a hundred a day would be my pay", and other comedic speculation about what "Mr. Reilly" would do if he were to become wealthy. The earliest recorded citation for "life of Reilly", however, is in 1919, where the "life of Reilly" is referred to in another song, "...but I'm living the life of Reilly just the same..."
2006-10-22 11:52:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bound to a toff called Riley I would think
2006-10-22 07:50:29 · answer #8 · answered by Sir Sidney Snot 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't know where it comes from but one of my cats is called riley because of that phrase.he was a rescue kitten and had been found in a bag with his brothers and sisters and a brick,ready to be flung in the river.when i got him i decided he would have the life of riley and named him that.
2006-10-22 07:59:46 · answer #9 · answered by missy k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That saying been going for years and years, I can remember my grandparents saying it
2006-10-22 10:01:32 · answer #10 · answered by shirley m 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋