darling

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better be an old man's darling than a young man's slave

proverb It is better for a woman to marry an old man who treats her well than a controlling young man. If anyone says that Lord Alistair is too old for you, just remember: better be an old man's darling than a young man's slave.

See also: an, better, darling, old, slave, young

kill (one's) darlings

To remove or refrain from using something in spite of one's affection for it, especially in a creative pursuit. The phrase is usually attributed to American author William Faulkner. Many a writer faces the uncomfortable need to kill their darlings in the editing process. If something in your art is no longer working, then you'll have to be ruthless and kill your darlings. How else will you grow as an artist?

See also: darling, kill

media darling

A very famous and popular person who receives exceptionally positive media coverage or attention. Ever since the election season began, the presidential hopeful has become quite the liberal media darling. The rising star has captured the world with her talent and beauty, becoming one of the biggest media darlings of recent times.

See also: darling, media

the darling buds of May

The flowers of early spring. The phrase comes from Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 ("rough winds do shake the darling buds of May"). I'm so sick of winter that I just can't wait for the darling buds of May to be in bloom.

See also: bud, darling, may, of

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

Better be an old man's darling than a young man's slave.

Prov. A young woman should prefer to marry an old man who dotes on her rather than a young man who may treat her badly. When Mr. Nash proposed to me, I thought he was too old, but my mother advised me, "Better be an old man's darling than a young man's slave." When Marion's friends objected that her fiance was much too old for her, she said, "Better be an old man's darling than a young man's slave."

See also: an, better, darling, old, slave, young

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.