I am curious about the phrase "the life of Riley". Do you know to what this refers? I have often used it and even heard it in a cartoon on Boomerang recently. I live in a historic district of Indianapolis and James Whitcomb Riley lived on my street. He was a famous poet and known to sit on the front porch and read to the children of the neighborhood.
Thanks
Ivey
Michael Quinion wrote about some possibilities here.
His conclusion: "We just don't know the truth of the matter."
Thanks very much.