ritz

This page is about the eponym ritz

Meaning

extreme luxury | more commonly used in its adjective form: ritzy

For example

  • We are living a life of ritz this week. Only the rich and famous stay at this hotel.

  • She took me to a ritzy restaurant where a bottle of wine was $500.

Note:
To put on the ritz means to make a show of one's luxury; this comes from the popular 1929 song by Irving Berlin titled Puttin' on the Ritz, re-released by pop singer Taco in 1983.

Origin: César Ritz (1850-1918) was a Swiss-born French businessman who got his start in restaurants and hotels in Paris. His famous luxury hotel The Ritz opened in Paris in 1898. Another one opened in London in 1906. The word ritzy became synonymous with anything luxurious.

Quick Quiz

Which of the following most closely describes a ritzy room?

a. It was dark and dingy.

b. It had expensive furniture and paintings.

c. It was full of smokers and dancers.
a) It was dark and dingy. b) It had expensive furniture and paintings. c) It was full of smokers and dancers.

Contributor: Tara Benwell