Life of Riley

By Deane Barker • •

This means a comfortable life, free from worry or anxiety.

No one seems to agree on where it came from. It dates to the early 1900s. Later, there was a radio show, a TV show, and a couple of movies that used the title.

Why I Looked It Up

It was a clue in the NY Times Mini Crossword. “Living the life of _____.” I knew it intutively, but had no idea why. (Still don’t, honestly.)

This is item #489 in a sequence of 948 items.

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