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lap of luxury

lap of luxury

5 4.4
A life with great comfort and a lot of money
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : vida de lujo
  • Sure, Carrie sometimes had to worry whether she could afford another pair of Jimmy Chus, but for the most part the ladies of that show lived in the lap of luxury.
  • live in the lap of luxury
  • sit in the lap of luxury

Examples

Synonyms

luxury
vslap of luxury
322 4.2

A great comfort from expensive things or experiences that people do not need

emphasizes wealth and the state of living rather than optional expensive items
luxuriousness
vslap of luxury
1 7.2

Great comfort and rich, elegant living that costs a lot

refers to an actual state of living rather than an abstract quality
silk-stocking lifestyle
vslap of luxury
  • Archaic
8.6

A way of living for rich people with expensive comforts and privilege

describes the general state of great comfort without focusing on social class
sumptuousness
vslap of luxury
8.1

The quality of being very rich and impressive in style or appearance

refers to the lived state of comfort and wealth rather than mere visual show

Antonyms

550 2.0

A situation of having very little money and few things

How Luxurious

opulence
9 7.7
lap of luxury
  • Informal
5 4.4
affluence
14 6.3
well-being
178 2.4
comfort
190 1.0

Surface Forms

lap of luxury singular

Morphology

lap + of + luxury

The phrase uses 'lap' metaphorically (a place of closeness or support) combined with 'luxury', so someone who knows both words can plausibly infer a sense of being surrounded by or enjoying luxury. However, the leap from the literal body-part meaning of 'lap' to the abstract notion of a 'state of great comfort' is figurative and idiomatic, so the exact meaning may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner without prior exposure.

Etymology

The phrase lap of luxury comes from the image of sitting in someone's lap, a safe, soft place, while being surrounded by luxury, meaning 'comfort' and 'wealth'. So it means 'a state of great comfort and wealth'.