life of Riley

noun phrase

life of Ri·​ley -ˈrī-lē How to pronounce life of Riley (audio)
variants or less commonly life of Reilly
: a carefree comfortable way of living

Examples of life of Riley in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Even as Gromit lives the life of Riley, this is one smart pup with the smarts to help Wallace from himself, and save the day. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

from the name Riley or Reilly

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of life of Riley was in 1911

Dictionary Entries Near life of Riley

Cite this Entry

“Life of Riley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life%20of%20Riley. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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