sit pretty
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Financial, Encyclopedia.
sit pretty
To be or remain in an ideal situation or advantageous position. I think it's pretty disgusting that your company sat pretty while millions of people lost their homes as a result of your negligence. Despite the protests in the country's streets, the despotic regime will continue to sit pretty unless an international intervention is mounted. With all the money you inherited from Aunt Myrtle, you'll be sitting pretty for the rest of your life.
sitting pretty
In an ideal living situation (typically because one is financially comfortable) or advantageous position. With all the money you inherited from Aunt Myrtle, you'll be sitting pretty for the rest of your life. I'll be sitting pretty for the rest of the semester if I can ace this test.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
*sitting pretty
living in comfort or luxury; living in a good situation. (*Typically: be ~; leave someone ~.) My uncle died and left enough money for me to be sitting pretty for the rest of my life. Now that I have a good-paying job, I'm sitting pretty.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
sitting pretty
In an advantageous position; also, financially well off. For example, The terms of the will left Mary sitting pretty. Although the use of pretty in the sense of "advantageous" is much older, this colloquialism dates only from the early 1900s. It was given extra currency as the title of two different musicals, Sittin' Pretty (M. Moore, 1921) and Sitting Pretty (G. Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, 1924).
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
sitting pretty
in an advantageous position or situation. informalFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
sitting pretty
mod. doing very nicely; in a very pleasant and secure position. She married a millionaire, and now she’s sitting pretty.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
sit pretty
Informal To be in a very favorable position.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
sitting pretty
In an advantageous position. This colloquial Americanism dates from the early l900s. A popular song of the period was “I’m Sitting Pretty in a Pretty Little City” (1923), by Lou Davis, Henry Santly, and Abel Baer.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer