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3. lead the life of Riley

lead the life of Riley

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lead the life of Riley

 and live the life of Riley

Fig. to live in luxury. (No one knows who Riley alludes to.) If I had a million dollars, I could live the life of Riley. The treasurer took our money to Mexico, where he lived the life of Riley until the police caught him.

See also: lead, life, of, riley

lead/live the life of Riley

  (informal)

to have a happy life without hard work, problems or worries He lived the life of Riley, having inherited a huge amount of money.

See also: lead, life, of, riley