rose (redirected from came up smelling of roses)

*red as a cherry and *red as a poppy; *red as a rose; *red as a ruby; *red as blood

bright red. (*Also: as ~.) When she came in from ice-skating, Clara's nose was as red as a cherry. When her boss praised her in front of the whole office, Emily turned red as a poppy. I would like to make a dress out of that beautiful velvet that is red as a rose. Jane painted her fingernails with polish as red as a ruby. I want to have my car painted red as blood.

See also: cherry, red

a bed of roses

a luxurious situation; an easy life. Who said life would be a bed of roses? If I had a million bucks, I would be in a bed of roses.

See also: bed

come out smelling like a rose

Fig. to succeed; to do better than anyone else in some situation. Everyone else in the firm lost money in the real estate deal, but Bob came out smelling like a rose. If I can just finish my research paper on time, I'll come out smelling like a rose by the end of the school year.

See also: come, like, out, smell

come up smelling like a rose and come up smelling like roses

Fig. to end up looking good or respectable after being involved in some difficult or notorious affair. I was surprised that my congressional representative came up smelling like a rose after his colleagues investigated him.

See also: come, like, smell, up

Everything's coming up roses.

Fig. Everything is really just excellent. Life is prosperous. Life is wonderful. Everything is coming up roses. Q: How are things going? A: Everything's coming up roses.

See also: coming, up

rose by any other name would smell as sweet

Prov. The nature of a thing is more important than what it is called. (From Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet.) Bob was upset when his job title was changed from "administrative assistant" to "secretary." We tried to convince him that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

See also: any, name, other, smell, sweet

smell like a rose

Fig. to seem innocent. I came out of the whole mess smelling like a rose, even though I caused all the trouble. The politician survived the scandal smelling like a rose, but I knew different.

See also: like, smell

There's no rose without a thorn.

Prov. to enjoy any beautiful or pleasant thing, you must endure something difficult or painful. Mike: My bride is lovely and gracious, but I'm discovering that she has a terrible temper. Bill: There's no rose without a thorn.

See also: thorn, without

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not be all moonlight and roses

if a situation is not all moonlight and roses, it is not always pleasant Marriage isn't all moonlight and roses. It can be hard work keeping a relationship together.

See also: and, moonlight

be no bed of roses  also not be a bed of roses

if a situation is no bed of roses, it is difficult or unpleasant It's no bed of roses, raising two kids on one salary, that's for sure. Life isn't a bed of roses, you know.

See also: bed

come out/up smelling of roses  (British & Australian) also come out/up smelling like roses (American)

if you come out smelling of roses, people believe you are good and honest after a difficult situation which could have made you seem bad or dishonest There was a major fraud investigation, but Smith still came out smelling of roses.

See also: come, out, smell

Everything's coming up roses.

something that you say when a situation is successful in every way Everything's coming up roses for George at the moment - he's been promoted at work and he's just got engaged.

See Everything in the garden is rosy, everything but the kitchen sink

See also: coming, up

put the roses in somebody's cheeks  also bring the roses to somebody's cheeks

to make someone look healthy A brisk walk will soon put the roses back in your cheeks.

See come out smelling of roses

See also: cheek, put

rose-coloured glasses  (British & Australian) also rose-colored glasses/rose-coloured spectacles (American & Australian/British)

if someone thinks about or looks at something with rose-coloured glasses, they think it is more pleasant than it really is She's nostalgic for a past that she sees through rose-colored glasses.

See also: glass

rose-tinted glasses  (British, American & Australian) also rose-tinted spectacles (British)

if someone looks at something through rose-tinted glasses, they see only the pleasant parts of it She has always looked at life through rose-tinted glasses.

See also: glass

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(come up) smelling like a rose also (come out) smelling like a rose

to end something positively or as a winner Everyone thought he was guilty, but Smith still came up smelling like a rose. Hahn made a terrible play in the first half, but he was smelling like a rose by the finish.

See also: like, smell

something is not a bed of roses

something is not easy and without troubles He soon discovered that living in a foreign country is not always a bed of roses.

See also: bed

through rose-colored glasses

with an attitude that things are better than they really are Looked at through rose-colored glasses, the story of women's role in the state's politics could be considered a success.

Usage notes: usually used with see something or look at something: The magazine had a habit of looking at social issues through rose-colored glasses.

See also: glass, through