easy street

alternative Easy Street

1. colloquialidiomaticuncountableChiefly preceded by on: a carefree lifestyle, especially as a result of becoming wealthy, or an easy situation.

   There was big money in it—the fellows who did that job might live on Easy Street the rest of their lives.

   1919, Upton Sinclair, “Jimmie Higgins Puts His Foot in It”, in Jimmie Higgins […], Pasadena, Calif.: Upton Sinclair, →OCLC, section II, page 83

   5 more examples

   Stocks are light, while packers will be able to get financial aid, which will, so far as that is concerned, place them on "easy street."

   1813, Financial Year Book of the Daily Commercial News, San Francisco, Calif.: Commercial News Pub. Co., →OCLC, page 55, column 2

   Once after this I asked the "pardners" if Jimsey's mascot was bringing him luck. / "Yes, lady," said Tom, "we walks on de shady side of de street now—don't we, Jimsey?" / "Yes, we lives on Easy street."

   1890 August, Marie L[ouise] Marsh, “[The Sketch Book—Character in Outline] Jimsey’s Mascot”, in Current Literature: A Magazine of Record and Review, volume V, number 2, New York, N.Y.: The Current Literature Publishing Co., →OCLC, page 121, column 2

   Honestly, Sally, it's the chance of a lifetime. It would put you right on easy street. Isn't there really any way you could get your money out of this other thing and take on this deal?

   The Adventures of Sally

   1921 October 8 – December 31, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter XIV, in Mostly Sally [The Adventures of Sally], 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, published 23 March 1923, →OCLC, section II, page 256

   Sometimes I'm tired and I wonder / What's so all-fired important / About being someplace at some time / Oh, but I don't really mind / 'Cause I could be on Easy Street

   1972 October, Carole King, “Bitter with the Sweet”, in Rhymes & Reasons

   Easy street, easy street / Where the rich folks play (yeah, yeah, yeah) / Move them feet to easy street / When you get there, stay

   1977, “Easy Street”, in Martin Charnin (lyrics), Charles Strouse (music), Annie (soundtrack)

1. uncountableAlternative letter-case form of easy street.

   There was big money in it—the fellows who did that job might live on Easy Street the rest of their lives.

   1919, Upton Sinclair, “Jimmie Higgins Puts His Foot in It”, in Jimmie Higgins […], Pasadena, Calif.: Upton Sinclair, →OCLC, section II, page 83

   2 more examples

   Why, I'll put each of those birds under a contract that will keep you and the missus on Easy Street the rest of your lives.

   1938, Florence and Richard Atwater, Mr. Popper's Penguins, page 138

   Sometimes I'm tired and I wonder / What's so all-fired important / About being someplace at some time / Oh, but I don't really mind / 'Cause I could be on Easy Street

   1972 October, Carole King, “Bitter with the Sweet”, in Rhymes & Reasons