Idioms are expressions that don’t mean exactly what the words say. Instead, they have a different, often figurative meaning.
Roses, beautiful and vibrant flowers, have made their way into many idiomatic expressions in the English language.
Roses can be used to represent various things in literature, such as beauty or passion. If you’re looking for comparisons that describe roses, you might find some interesting ones here: Metaphors for Roses. And if you’re curious about phrases that liken roses to other objects or qualities, you can explore them here: Similes for Roses.
What is an idiom for roses?
Idioms are like secret codes in language, packed with meaning that might not be obvious at first glance.
They add color and depth to our conversations, often drawing from everyday experiences.
Summary
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Stop and smell the roses. | Take time to appreciate the little things in life. | In the midst of her busy schedule, she made sure to stop and smell the roses by enjoying a peaceful walk in the park. |
| A bed of roses. | A situation that is comfortable and easy. | His new job seemed like a bed of roses until he realized the challenges that came with it. |
| Everything’s coming up roses. | Everything is going well or turning out successfully. | Despite the initial setbacks, the project turned around, and now everything’s coming up roses. |
| Underneath the rose. | Secretly or in private. | The negotiations were happening underneath the rose, away from the public eye. |
| A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. | What something is called doesn’t change what it is. | She might go by a different name now, but a rose by any other name would smell as sweet; she’s still the same person. |
| Paint the town red. | To go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly. | After their exams were over, the students decided to paint the town red to celebrate. |
| To come up smelling like roses. | To emerge from a situation with a positive outcome. | Despite the mishaps during the presentation, she managed to come up smelling like roses and impressed the clients. |
| To have a nose like a bloodhound. | To have a keen sense of smell. | She could detect even the faintest scents; she truly had a nose like a bloodhound. |
| To come out smelling like a rose. | To emerge from a difficult situation with one’s reputation intact. | Despite the scandal, he somehow managed to come out smelling like a rose. |
| To be in the pink. | To be in good health or condition. | After a week of rest, she was back to her usual self, in the pink of health. |
| To be in full bloom. | To be at the peak of development or success. | The company was in full bloom after the successful launch of its new product. |
| To be the apple of someone’s eye. | To be cherished or loved by someone. | Her daughter was the apple of her eye, and she would do anything to make her happy. |
| To be as fresh as a daisy. | To be lively and energetic. | Despite the long journey, she arrived at the party as fresh as a daisy. |
| To be as pretty as a picture. | To be very attractive or pleasing to look at. | The garden, with its colorful flowers and neatly trimmed hedges, was as pretty as a picture. |
| To be in the doghouse. | To be in trouble or disfavor. | After forgetting their anniversary, he found himself in the doghouse with his wife. |
| To catch someone red-handed. | To catch someone in the act of doing something wrong. | The security camera caught the thief red-handed as he attempted to steal from the store. |
| To have a green thumb. | To be skilled in gardening or growing plants. | Her grandmother had a green thumb; every plant she touched thrived beautifully. |
| To have a nose for trouble. | To be able to sense when something bad is about to happen. | He always seemed to have a nose for trouble and could anticipate problems before they arose. |
| To have a thorn in one’s side. | To have a persistent annoyance or problem. | The ongoing construction noise was a thorn in her side as she tried to work from home. |
| To have a budding relationship. | To be in the early stages of a romantic relationship. | They had just started dating and were excited about their budding relationship. |
| To have a rosy outlook. | To be optimistic about the future. | Despite the challenges, she maintained a rosy outlook and believed that things would get better. |
| To throw someone under the bus. | To betray or sacrifice someone for personal gain. | In order to save himself, he decided to throw his colleague under the bus. |
| To be the life of the party. | To be lively and entertaining at social gatherings. | With his jokes and dance moves, he quickly became the life of the party. |
| To feel like a wallflower. | To feel unnoticed or unimportant in a social situation. | Surrounded by unfamiliar faces, she couldn’t help but feel like a wallflower at the party. |
| To be a bed of roses. | To be a situation that is comfortable and easy. | Many dream of fame, but they often forget that it’s not always a bed of roses. |
Idioms for Roses
1. Stop and smell the roses.
Meaning: Take time to appreciate the little things in life.
In a Sentence: In the midst of her busy schedule, she made sure to stop and smell the roses by enjoying a peaceful walk in the park.
2. A bed of roses.
Meaning: A situation that is comfortable and easy.
In a Sentence: His new job seemed like a bed of roses until he realized the challenges that came with it.
3. Everything’s coming up roses.
Meaning: Everything is going well or turning out successfully.
In a Sentence: Despite the initial setbacks, the project turned around, and now everything’s coming up roses.
4. Underneath the rose.
Meaning: Secretly or in private.
In a Sentence: The negotiations were happening underneath the rose, away from the public eye.
5. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Meaning: What something is called doesn’t change what it is.
In a Sentence: She might go by a different name now, but a rose by any other name would smell as sweet; she’s still the same person.
6. Paint the town red.
Meaning: To go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly.
In a Sentence: After their exams were over, the students decided to paint the town red to celebrate.
7. To come up smelling like roses.
Meaning: To emerge from a situation with a positive outcome, especially when it seemed unlikely.
In a Sentence: Despite the mishaps during the presentation, she managed to come up smelling like roses and impressed the clients.
8. To have a nose like a bloodhound.
Meaning: To have a keen sense of smell.
In a Sentence: She could detect even the faintest scents; she truly had a nose like a bloodhound.
9. To come out smelling like a rose.
Meaning: To emerge from a difficult situation with one’s reputation intact.
In a Sentence: Despite the scandal, he somehow managed to come out smelling like a rose.
10. To be in the pink.
Meaning: To be in good health or condition.
In a Sentence: After a week of rest, she was back to her usual self, in the pink of health.
11. To be in full bloom.
Meaning: To be at the peak of development or success.
In a Sentence: The company was in full bloom after the successful launch of its new product.
12. To be the apple of someone’s eye.
Meaning: To be cherished or loved by someone.
In a Sentence: Her daughter was the apple of her eye, and she would do anything to make her happy.
13. To be as fresh as a daisy.
Meaning: To be lively and energetic.
In a Sentence: Despite the long journey, she arrived at the party as fresh as a daisy.
14. To be as pretty as a picture.
Meaning: To be very attractive or pleasing to look at.
In a Sentence: The garden, with its colorful flowers and neatly trimmed hedges, was as pretty as a picture.
15. To be in the doghouse.
Meaning: To be in trouble or disfavor.
In a Sentence: After forgetting their anniversary, he found himself in the doghouse with his wife.
16. To catch someone red-handed.
Meaning: To catch someone in the act of doing something wrong.
In a Sentence: The security camera caught the thief red-handed as he attempted to steal from the store.
17. To have a green thumb.
Meaning: To be skilled in gardening or growing plants.
In a Sentence: Her grandmother had a green thumb; every plant she touched thrived beautifully.
18. To have a nose for trouble.
Meaning: To be able to sense when something bad is about to happen.
In a Sentence: He always seemed to have a nose for trouble and could anticipate problems before they arose.
19. To have a thorn in one’s side.
Meaning: To have a persistent annoyance or problem.
In a Sentence: The ongoing construction noise was a thorn in her side as she tried to work from home.
20. To have a budding relationship.
Meaning: To be in the early stages of a romantic relationship.
In a Sentence: They had just started dating and were excited about their budding relationship.
21. To have a rosy outlook.
Meaning: To be optimistic about the future.
In a Sentence: Despite the challenges, she maintained a rosy outlook and believed that things would get better.
22. To throw someone under the bus.
Meaning: To betray or sacrifice someone for personal gain.
In a Sentence: In order to save himself, he decided to throw his colleague under the bus.
23. To be the life of the party.
Meaning: To be lively and entertaining at social gatherings.
In a Sentence: With his jokes and dance moves, he quickly became the life of the party.
24. To feel like a wallflower.
Meaning: To feel unnoticed or unimportant in a social situation.
In a Sentence: Surrounded by unfamiliar faces, she couldn’t help but feel like a wallflower at the party.
25. To be a bed of roses.
Meaning: To be a situation that is comfortable and easy.
In a Sentence: Many dream of fame, but they often forget that it’s not always a bed of roses.
Here are 10 quizzes about the idioms mentioned in the article:
Quiz 1: Multiple Choice
- What does the idiom “Stop and smell the roses” mean?
a) Rush through life without appreciating the small joys.
b) Take time to appreciate the little things in life.
c) Avoid flowers altogether.
d) Hurry past flowers without noticing them.
Quiz 2: Fill in the Blank
- Complete the idiom: “A bed of __.”
Hint: This idiom describes a comfortable and easy situation.
Quiz 3: True or False
- True or False: “Everything’s coming up roses” means that everything is going poorly.
Quiz 4: Match the Meaning
- Match the idiom with its correct meaning:
- “To have a nose like a bloodhound”
- “To have a green thumb”
- “To throw someone under the bus”
- “To catch someone red-handed” a) To be skilled in gardening. b) To betray someone for personal gain. c) To have a keen sense of smell. d) To catch someone in the act of doing something wrong.
Quiz 5: Sentence Completion
- Fill in the blank: Despite the challenges, she maintained a __ outlook.
Quiz 6: Matching
- Match the idiom with its meaning:
- “To be in full bloom”
- “To be as fresh as a daisy”
- “To be in the pink”
- “To feel like a wallflower” a) To be unnoticed or unimportant in a social situation. b) To be at the peak of development or success. c) To be lively and energetic. d) To be in good health or condition.
Quiz 7: Definition
- What does the idiom “To be the life of the party” mean?
Quiz 8: Contextual Understanding
- In which situation would you use the idiom “To be in the doghouse”?
Quiz 9: Matching
- Match the idiom with its correct meaning:
- “To have a budding relationship”
- “To be the apple of someone’s eye”
- “To have a thorn in one’s side”
- “To come out smelling like a rose” a) To be cherished or loved by someone. b) To emerge from a difficult situation with one’s reputation intact. c) To be in the early stages of a romantic relationship. d) To have a persistent annoyance or problem.
Quiz 10: True or False
- True or False: “To be as pretty as a picture” means to be unattractive.
These quizzes should help test understanding of the idioms mentioned in the article.
Conclusion
Idioms add color and depth to the English language, often drawing from everyday experiences like the beauty and complexity of roses. Understanding these idioms can help you navigate conversations and comprehend the nuances of communication.
