- Meaning
- This idiom describes living in extreme comfort, wealth, or extravagance, surrounded by opulent conditions or indulgences, as if cradled in the comforting ‘lap’ of luxury itself. It conveys a lifestyle of affluence, ease, and privilege, often with an emphasis on material pleasures or carefree living, and is used in social, economic, or aspirational contexts to highlight enviable prosperity. The phrase carries a tone of admiration, envy, or sometimes irony, reflecting cultural fascination with wealth and the societal contrast between luxury and struggle. It can also imply a degree of detachment from everyday hardships, evoking both aspiration and critique in cultures where economic disparity is a prominent theme.
- Origin
- The phrase likely emerged in 18th-century Britain, tied to the imagery of a ‘lap’ as a place of comfort and nurturing, combined with the growing cultural obsession with aristocratic luxury. An early use appears in Samuel Richardson’s 1740 novel *Pamela*, describing a character ‘in the lap of luxury’ for their lavish lifestyle. The idiom gained traction in the 19th century, reflecting the Industrial Revolution’s stark wealth gaps, as seen in Charles Dickens’ *Bleak House* (1853), where opulence is contrasted with poverty. Its adoption in American English grew during the Gilded Age, a period of ostentatious wealth, with Mark Twain’s *The Gilded Age* (1873) capturing its spirit. The phrase’s poetic imagery, evoking both intimacy and excess, and its relevance to social stratification ensured its spread across English-speaking cultures, particularly in literature, journalism, and aspirational narratives from Victorian salons to modern celebrity culture.
- Variants
-
- In the lap of luxury
- Live in the lap of luxury
- Living in the lap of luxury
- Bathe in the lap of luxury
- Examples
-
- She’s living in the lap of luxury, staying at a five-star resort with a private chef.
- In the lap of luxury, he bought a mansion complete with a home theater.
- Live in the lap of luxury on this cruise, with gourmet dining and spa services.
- Bathe in the lap of luxury at their penthouse, overlooking the city skyline.
- They’re in the lap of luxury, traveling first-class and staying in exclusive villas.
- Living in the lap of luxury, she surrounded herself with designer clothes and fine art.
|