However, the expression could have an Irish origin: after the Reilly clan consolidated its hold on County Cavan, they minted their own money, accepted as legal tender even in England. These coins, called “O'Reillys” and “Reilly's,” became synonymous with a monied person, and a gentleman freely spending was “living on his Reillys.
There is a HUGE déja vu about this.
ReplyDeleteI love this blog. I love reading and learning the meaning of old sayings. It's in my genes, my grandmother kept a handwritten book of "Old Sayings", collecting them over the years, many indigenious to my region, the Old South here in the U.S. Often, however, I have come to find that these sayings were rooted in English slang brought over with the folks who settled here in the 1700's and, being isolated here in rural areas more than urban areas up North, the sayings stayed in active usage until my generation(the baby-boomers) and are now almost never heard. For example, when asked how a neighbor was doing, a reply could easily have been, "Same old six and sevens" meaning: the individudal's life and activiies are not much changed.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the website. Would appreciate your sharing best sources for your definitions.
Thanks, again.