where did the life of riley come from
Origin. The phrase originated in the Irish/American community of the USA, in the early part of the 20th century. The first printed citation of it that I have found is from the Connecticut newspaper The Hartford Courant, December 1911 - in a piece headed ' Bullet Ends Life of Famous Wild Cow ':he best in the house is none too good for Reilly. So, while the idea of a notional Irishman living the high life was current in late 19th century America, the phrase 'the life of Riley' isn't found until the early 20th century.