easy street
C1-C2 / Low-MidInformal, Colloquial, Figurative
Definition
Meaning
A state of financial comfort, prosperity, or a life without material worries.
A figurative condition of living comfortably with little effort, often due to financial success, inheritance, or a fortunate situation. It implies not just wealth but the absence of struggle.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost exclusively used in the prepositional phrase 'on (easy) street' or 'living on easy street'. It is an idiom, not a literal location. Carries a slightly old-fashioned, whimsical, or sometimes envious connotation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and meaning are identical. No significant syntactic or semantic divergence.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can carry a slightly ironic or envious tone. May imply the ease is undeserved or the result of luck rather than hard work.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English historical/cultural discourse, but well-understood and used in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + be/live on easy street.Something + put/land + [Object] on easy street.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On easy street”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used in formal reports. Might appear in informal conversation: 'After that merger, the founders are on easy street.'
Academic
Virtually never used; considered too informal and figurative.
Everyday
Primary context: 'They won the lottery and are now living on easy street.'
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
American English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
American English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Not applicable as a standalone adjective)
American English
- (Not applicable as a standalone adjective)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- After years of hard work, they are finally on easy street.
- Winning that prize money put him on easy street.
- Don't assume that a big inheritance automatically lands you on easy street; you still need to manage the money wisely.
- With his new promotion and pay rise, he feels he's officially arrived on easy street.
- The satirical novel follows a character who believes marrying into wealth is a direct ticket to easy street, only to discover the gilded cage of high society.
- While the tech startup's founders are now living on easy street, they often reminisce about the gritty, challenging early days in the garage.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a street named 'Easy Street' where all the houses are paid for, the sun always shines, and no one has to work. Living on that street means a life of ease.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / FINANCIAL STATE IS A LOCATION. Prosperity is conceptualized as a specific, pleasant neighbourhood one resides in.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation (*'лёгкая улица'), which is nonsense.
- Do not confuse with 'проспект' or 'бульвар' – it's purely idiomatic.
- The phrase 'на широкую ногу' (living on a grand scale) is conceptually closer than any literal translation.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective (*'He has an easy street life.').
- Omitting the preposition 'on' (*'He lives easy street.').
- Treating it as a real place name without context.
Practice
Quiz
What is the correct usage of 'easy street'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely and only in very informal, creative contexts as a compound modifier. The standard, correct usage is in the phrase 'on easy street'.
It is generally positive, describing a desirable state. However, it can be used with a negative or envious connotation by an outsider to imply the ease is unearned or the person is lazy.
It is an American idiom from the early 20th century, likely originating from the concept of a street where life is 'easy', popularized in songs and cartoons.
No, it is almost never used with a definite article ('the'). The standard form is 'on easy street' without an article.