"Well, that's rich, isn't it?"

Posted by ESC on January 11, 2004

In Reply to: "Well, that's rich, isn't it?" posted by MB on January 08, 2004

: Hi,

: Does anyone know the origin of the phrase 'That's rich'?

: Thanks,
: MB

I haven't been able to find anything. I looked in a couple of general references and a couple on youth slang. Merriam-Webster online has "laughable" as one meaning for "rich":
7 a : ENTERTAINING; also : LAUGHABLE b : MEANINGFUL, SIGNIFICANT Rich allusions. c : LUSH Rich meadows.