no rose without a thorn
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia.
(there's) no rose without a thorn
There is rarely a good or positive person, thing, or situation that does not have some negative or unpleasant aspect (i.e., just as a rose, which is beautiful, has harmful thorns). A: "I can't believe the amount of taxes I have to pay on my lottery winnings!" B: "No rose without a thorn, eh?" Our teacher is usually very supportive and patient, but if you mess around in her class, she'll tear you a new one. There's no rose without thorns, I guess.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
(there is) no rose without a thorn
every apparently desirable situation has its share of trouble or difficulty.This expression has been proverbial since the mid 15th century. The earliest recorded instance is in a work by John Lydgate ( 1430–40 ): ‘There is no rose…in garden, but there be sum thorne’.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017