the fat of the land
1
6.8
- idiom
:
lo mejor de la tierra
- And when we get to Chicago, we'll be living off the fat of the land.
- live off the fat of the land
Examples
-
I can no longer abide the young people of our country... who live off their parents and the fat of the land... and then they find nothing better to do than whine and complain!
-
Tonight, you are alive enjoying the fat of the land.
-
You've been living off the fat of the land.
-
Live off the fat of the land, work hard, farming, farming, farming.
-
I don't intend to lounge around living off the fat of the land.
-
Do you mean to tell me that a chap can go down there, and put up there as if it were a hotel and live on the fat of the land and then come away without paying a farthing?
-
After years of hard work, they were finally able to enjoy the fat of the land during their retirement.
-
The wealthy couple traveled around the world, indulging in the fat of the land without a care.
-
Living in this beautiful countryside allows us to truly appreciate the fat of the land and its plentiful resources.
Synonyms
11
3.4
A large amount of detail, color, or variety that pleases people
1
7.7
A very rich, full appearance that pleases the senses
1
7.3
A large amount of good things, often food or gifts
Antonyms
How Abundant
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase's meaning is directly derivable from 'fat' (here meaning fertile/rich or abundant produce) combined with 'land' (place or domain), so a learner who knows those senses can infer 'the best/abundant things a place offers'. The metaphor of fertility = abundance is common across languages and the composition follows a straightforward semantic pattern, so it is accessible to B1 learners.
Etymology
The phrase the fat of the land may come from old farming images: the fat meant rich, fatty animals and crops, and the best part of a farm was the land that made them. So, to live on the fat of the land means to enjoy the richest, best things a place can give, like a 'reward' for hard work or good luck.