Sir: I recently bought a new show horse and named him "Life of Riley." I've heard the saying all my life and would like to know where, when and how it originated.
I know there was a radio sitcom by that name in the '50s, but my grandmother tells me the saying was in use long before then.- Carita P.
Answer: It was. There are at least three theories of its origin, but the one generally accepted is that it comes from a song written and sung by vaudeville star Pat Rooney in the 1880s.
In the song, Riley (or Reilly or O'Reilly, depending on whom you trust) told all the good things that would happen to everyone if he struck it rich, and the audience joined in choruses about the life they would lead. It just naturally followed that anyone living luxuriously was living the life of that fortunate fellow. Your show horse has a lot to live up to!
Sir: A sentence I use often and hear others use is "I look forward to hearing from you." I know "to hear" is the infinitive form of "hear," but what is "to hearing"? Can that properly be used?
- Marvin R.
Answer: Yes indeed, but loosen your mental link between "to" and "hearing." Instead, put the "to" with the "look forward." When you do that, you have "look forward to," which means "anticipate," and you'd see nothing wrong with "I anticipate hearing from you," would you? So now you have the phrase "hearing from you" as the object of "look forward to," and you don't have to worry about what "to hearing" is. Hey, that was fun, wasn't it?
Sir: Can you tell me why "do-re-mi" and "moolah" mean money?
- Alice J.
Answer: The first word is simple enough; as the Wentworth and Flexner Dictionary of American Slang explains it, the first syllable is a pun on "dough," slang for money, and the next two are simply the second and third notes of the diatonic scale. Or, come to think about it, is that so simple? Anyhow, that's it.
As for "moolah," no one seems to have figured out the origin of that. I suppose we could theorize that the "moo" is for beef, which moneyed people often eat, and the "lah" is short for "lah-de-dah," which is how they act. And if that won't do, I surrender.
Sir: What do you think of "unthaw," as in "I need to unthaw the meat for dinner"?
- Pat A.
Answer: Oh, I don't like it. Unthawed meat's too hard on the teeth.
STRANGE OWNER of the week, noted by Ellen V.:
"A buyer's guide I was reading advertised a `4 bedroom well-kept house for sale by owner with attached garage.' I am trying to picture that owner with an attached garage. Must look pretty funny!"
Send questions, comments, and good and bad examples to Lydel Sims, Watch Your Language, 366 S. Highland, Apt. 410, Memphis, TN 38111. If you quote a book, please give author, title and page number. Sorry, but questions can be answered only through this column.