life of Riley

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Alternative spellings 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Alternative spellings

• life of Reilly

[edit] Etymology

• Various theories exist.

[edit] Noun

life of Riley (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) An ideal life of carefree prosperity and contentment.
   • 1919, Alexander Woollcott, The Command is Forward: Tales of the A.E.F. Battlefields, page 257

     This is the story of the softships of the Third American Army. For the Yankee troops who were assigned to take and hold the Coblenz bridgehead are leading the life of Riley on the Rhine.

[edit] Translations