easy street

USAGE SUMMARY

"easy street" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation in which someone is comfortable and not having to worry about money or work. For example, "With his recent inheritance, John can now live on easy street for the rest of his life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Easy Street, rock.

The New York Times

Ha! Easy street.

The New York Times - Magazine

Caltech was easy street.

The Guardian

Real are on easy street.

The Guardian - Sport

Arsenal are on easy street.

The Guardian - Sport

Everybody's looking for that easy street and there ain't no easy street.

Independent

Politics is not life on easy street.

The Guardian - Opinion

Easy street, here comes the whole nation.

The New York Times

Still, Easy Street is hardly around the corner.

The New York Times

For that, Easy Street Records in West Seattle is wonderful.

The Guardian - Travel

And like Vincent, he accepts easy street as his due.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reserve the phrase for casual or journalistic writing; in strictly formal academic reports, prefer terms like "financial security" or "affluence".

Common error

Avoid using 'in' as the preposition. While one lives 'in' a city, one is idiomaticlly 'on' "easy street". Additionally, ensure the context is figurative; using it to describe a literal paved road can confuse readers expecting the idiom.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "easy street" functions primarily as a noun phrase used within prepositional phrases (usually starting with 'on'). In the sentences provided by Ludwig, it acts as a predicate nominative or the object of a preposition to describe a subject's state of existence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Arts & Entertainment

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "easy street" is a highly versatile and widely recognized English idiom signifying a life of comfort and wealth. Analysis from Ludwig AI shows a robust presence in major journalistic outlets, where it is used to describe everything from sports victories to financial windfalls. Whether capitalized as a title or used in lowercase as an idiom, it consistently conveys a lack of hardship. For writers seeking to vary their prose, alternatives like "in clover" or "well-to-do" offer similar semantic value, but "easy street" remains the most evocative choice for describing a 'carefree situation'.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in clover

Uses a different nature-based metaphor to describe the same state of prosperity.

the life of Riley

A specific idiomatic personification of a carefree, luxurious lifestyle.

on the gravy train

Often implies wealth that is easily acquired or unearned compared to the general idiom.

well-off

A more literal and slightly more formal adjective describing financial stability.

prosperous

A formal single-word adjective describing success and wealth.

sitting pretty

An informal idiom emphasizing a secure or advantageous position.

rolling in it

A very informal way to emphasize an excessive amount of wealth.

financially independent

A formal, modern alternative focusing on the lack of need for employment.

flush with cash

Suggests a temporary or immediate abundance of money rather than a long-term lifestyle.

living the dream

A broader cliche that includes lifestyle and happiness beyond just money.

FAQs

How do I use "easy street" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe financial success, for example: 'After the company was sold, the founders were on "easy street".' or 'He thought winning the lottery would put him on "easy street".'

What is a more formal synonym for "easy street"?

Instead of the idiom, you can use more formal terms like "prosperous", "wealthy", or "financially secure".

Is it "living in easy street" or "living on easy street"?

The correct idiomatic form is 'living on "easy street"'. Using the preposition 'in' is generally considered non-standard for this specific expression.

Can "easy street" be used to describe something other than money?

While primarily used for financial ease, it can metaphorically describe any situation of comfort, such as an athlete playing against a weak opponent being on "easy street" during the match.