creature comforts
plural noun-phrase

- things that make life more pleasant, such as good food and a comfortable place to live

- something (such as food, warmth, or special accommodations) that gives bodily comfort

The Cambridge Dictionary / Merriam-Webster

—
PHRASE ORIGIN

Brewer’s 1894 Dictionary of Phrase and Fable defines "creature comforts" as “food and other things necessary for the comfort of the body”. Man being supposed to consist of body and soul, the body is the creature, but the soul is the “vital spark of heavenly flame”.

Although the exact origin of "creature comforts" is unclear, the phrase was popularised in 19th century literary works from such authors as Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Jack London.

—
CREATURE COMFORTS IN ANCIENT ROME

Rich Romans knew quite a lot about work-life balance, beginning their day with a light breakfast ientaculum, typically consisting of pieces of bread dipped in wine, or with cheese, dried fruit, and honey.

A second breakfast or light lunch was called prandium where only cold food was served, such as bread, ham, salted meat and cheese, olives and fruit, or reheated leftovers from the previous day’s dinner. This was accompanied by water, diluted wine or honey wine (mulsum).

Dinner, cena, the main meal of the day, started early, often between 14:00 and 16:00 (perhaps after a warm bath) and could last for hours.

Cena comprised three courses, tria fercula. Traditionally an appetizer of hard-boiled eggs ova duro, like the hors d’oeuvre or amuse-bouche in classical French cuisine. In the second course, bread, various vegetables, meat, fish and legumes were served, and in the third, fruit, nuts and sweet pastries. There were no desserts in our modern sense. All courses were accompanied by water or wine.

Rather than sit, a Roman dinner guest would recline on his left elbow, picking the food off the table with his fingers.

Romans enjoyed a staggering number of public holidays. Under emperor Claudius for example, the Roman year had 159 public holidays.

—
SYNONYMS

- for (extreme) comfort:

abundance, bed of roses, comfort, cosiness, CREATURE COMFORTS, extravagance, finery, gracious living, kingliness, lap of luxury, lavishness, life of Riley, lushness, luxuriance, luxuriousness, luxury, milk and honey, plenty, plushiness, plushness, snugness, succor, warmth, well-being

—
SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“After being on the road for nearly three weeks, I’m really looking forward to the CREATURE COMFORTS of home.”

—
HERZLICHEN DANK to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations at:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-

and,

Paul Smith, IBAN: DE75 7316 0000 0002 5477 40