💚 Life of Reilly, Leading/Living the
Living a life of luxury. Although there are several theories about the origin of this term and the exact identity of Reilly (or Riley), the idiom universally evokes a carefree and sumptuous existence. One of the earliest attributions is to a comic song, “Is That Mr. Reilly?” popularized by vaudevillian Pat Rooney in America in the 1880s, describing what Reilly would do if he struck it rich. However, H. L. Mencken suggested it came from another song, “The Best in the House Is None Too Good for Reilly,” by Lawlor and Blake, which was popular around 1900. Despite the original Reilly’s identity being shrouded in mystery, this clichéd phrase lives on robustly.
Synonyms
- Living in the lap of luxury
- Living high on the hog
- Living it up
- Rolling in dough
- On Easy Street
Antonyms
- Scraping the bottom of the barrel
- Down and out
- Living on a shoestring
- Barely making ends meet
Humorous Quotes
- “Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy a yacht big enough to pull up right alongside it.” – David Lee Roth
- “The best things in life are free. The second best are very expensive.” – Coco Chanel
Literature & Media Recommendations
- Books: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – Dive into the opulence and excess of Jay Gatsby’s world.
- Movies: The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) – Experience the colorful (if chaotic) life of Jordan Belfort.
- Songs: “Rich Girl” by Hall & Oates – A musical nod to living luxuriously.
- Poetry: Heritage by Countee Cullen – Reflects on wealth in various forms.
Related Expressions & Proverbs
- “Rich as Croesus”
- “Money to burn”
- “Living in clover”
- “Riding the gravy train”
- “A fool and his money are soon parted”
💭 Final Thought
Life may not always hand us a silver platter, but gaining a word can provide us a treasure worth cherishing. May your days be rich in experiences, whether they resemble Reilly’s legendary luxury or the simple joys that touch the heart.
In want, there is wisdom. In wealth, there is warmth. Go forth and savor the words that weave the wondrous web of life.
— Velma Vocabulary, 2023.
