(as) delicate as a flower

1. Extremely physically frail or fragile; easily broken or injured. I bent down and scooped up the tiny bunny. The poor creature felt as delicate as a flower in my hands. She a mixed martial artist who could knock your block off now, but she was delicate as a flower when she was a kid. Don't even so much as breathe near that tiered cake—it's as delicate as a flower.

2. Extremely sensitive to insult, slight, or offense. I was a spoiled only child, so naturally I was delicate as a flower when I was a kid. But I wanted to be an actress, so I had to toughen up. I can't believe you said something negative about Shelly's hair when you know she's delicate as a flower! Of course Stu is offended that you didn't invite him—he's as delicate as a flower and sees everything as an intentional slight.

April showers bring May flowers

proverb Poor, often rainy weather in April can prove beneficial to blooming plant life in May. A: "Ugh, will it ever stop raining?" B: "April showers bring may flowers, at least." Reminding myself that April showers bring May flowers is the only thing getting me through this rainy spell. I get that April showers bring May flowers, but I am ready for the May flowers now!

flower

1. The best example or greatest representative of a group. Margaret was long considered the flower of her graduating class. That house used to be a real dump, but the new owner has made it into the flower of the neighborhood. You came in first place because your volcano was the flower of all the projects in the Science Fair.

2. The best state or prime condition of something. It was in the flower of my youth that I knew I wanted to be a great writer. I did hear about the accident. I can't believe Margaret has been cut down in the flower of her life. You won't be in the flower of youth forever, my darling. You need to live—really live—now!

3. slang The vagina, especially the labia majora and the labia minora. I told him that he wasn't going near my flower until after we were married.

4. slang An effeminate, weak, ineffectual, or cowardly man or boy. Don't be such a flower, Jimmy, stand up for yourself and fight him! I can't believe Mike lets his girlfriend tell him what to do—what a flower. I don't care if those guys think I'm a flower—I'm not pulling a prank on our History teacher.

5. A term of endearment, often toward a girl or woman. Primarily heard in UK, Ireland. Ah, my little flower! Come here and give your auntie a kiss! Here you are, me auld flower, two tickets to the show, as promised! Look at my darling flower over there with the other kids. She loves being in nursery school.

flower child

dated A hippie, especially one who is from the 1960s or adopts the style and manner thereof. My grandmother was a prototypical flower child back in the 60s, singing protest songs and living out of a VW van adorned with peace signs and groovy colors. The secluded community is run by old-school flower children who put an emphasis on peace, anti-materialism, and care for the environment. A: "Mom, you were a flower child?" B: "You bet I was. I was at Woodstock!"

flower of the flock

The best person or thing in a group. Your cupcakes are just the flower of the flock—there is no better item at the bake sale. She's the best we've got, the flower of the flock, so you should absolutely put her on this case. We need to draft this player—he's definitely the flower of the flock.

hearts and flowers

A phrase used to describe excessive sentimentality. The premise is actually pretty interesting, but the dialogue in these books is all hearts and flowers. Her latest romance novel has all the typical hearts and flowers we've come to expect by this point. Oh really? Then name for me a romantic comedy that isn't just 90 minutes of hearts and flowers.

in the flower of youth

In one's youth, viewed as the finest, most vital, or most exemplary part of one's life. A possessive adjective can be used between "of" and "youth." You're still in the flower of your youth—you have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do with your life. After Arthur Henry Hallam died in the flower of youth, his good friend, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, wrote the poem In Memoriam A.H.H. You won't be in the flower of youth forever, my darling. You need to live—really live—now!

let a hundred flowers bloom

A phrase associated with the "Hundred Flowers Campaign" in the People's Republic of China in the late 1950s. The short-lived campaign seemingly encouraged criticism of the government—though only within certain parameters before a return to violent suppression. For how long after Mao Zedong urged people to "let a hundred flowers bloom" was criticism actually accepted?

let a thousand flowers bloom

A phrase encouraging the simultaneous existence of many ideas or things. The phrase (originally "let a hundred flowers bloom") was associated with the "Hundred Flowers Campaign" in the People's Republic of China in the late 1950s. The short-lived campaign seemingly allowed criticism of the government—though only within certain parameters before a return to violent suppression. For how long after Mao Zedong urged people to "let a thousand flowers bloom" was criticism actually accepted?

the flower of (something)

The finest, most vital, or most exemplary part of something. Though many worry the legislation will hamper trade with foreign countries, I'm hopeful that it will help nurture and cultivate the flower of local industries. The community has been struggling to come to terms with the death of the three boys, all struck down in the flower of youth.

the flower of youth

The time in one's youth in which they have the most vitality, good health, physical ability, etc.; the prime of one's life. A possessive adjective can be used between "of" and "youth." Those who fail to pursue meaningful careers or activities will spend their latter years longing for the flower of their youth. The community has been struggling to come to terms with the death of the three boys, all struck down in the flower of youth.

April showers bring May flowers.

Prov. Although rain in April is annoying, it starts the flowers growing. Child: I hate all this rain. Why does it have to rain? Mother: April showers bring May flowers. Although it was a dreary, rainy day, we felt cheerful, since April showers bring May flowers.

the flower of —

the finest individuals out of a number of people or things.

Middle and early modern English did not recognize the modern distinction in spelling and sense between flower and flour , and the earliest instances of this expression relate to the sense that in modern English would be spelt flour , referring to the finest part of the wheat.

1991 Pat Robertson New World Order This vainglorious conqueror wasted the flower of French youth on his own personal dreams of empire.

hearts and flowers

used in allusion to extreme sentimentality.

the flower of something

(literary) the finest or best part of something: The people of the village will never forget the war and their young men, killed in the flower of youth.

hearts and flowers

n. sentimentality. I didn’t care for the hearts and flowers part.

April showers bring May flowers

Adversity is followed by good fortune. An old proverb, it was taken more literally in days gone by, and in fact it appeared in a British book of Weather Lore published in 1893.

flower children

Hippies of the 1960s, so named because they frequently wore or carried flowers as symbols of love and peace. Their antimaterialistic, antiwar philosophy was characterized as flower power, whose motto was “Make love, not war.” Overused for several decades, these terms now may be dying out.

flower of youth, the

The best or finest time of life, at the peak of good looks, good health, and vigor. “He hath the flower of youth, wherein is the fulness of strength,” wrote Homer in the Iliad (ca. 850 b.c.). Shakespeare used similar language, but not the precise wording of the cliché. But John Dryden did, in Alexander’s Feast (1697), describing the lovely Thais “in flow’r of youth and beauty’s pride.”