bed of roses

English

Etymology

From Christopher Marlowe's poem The Passionate Shepherd to His Love (1599).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɛd ʌv ˈɹəʊzəz/

• Audio (AU)

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Noun

bed of roses (plural beds of roses)

1. (idiomatic) A pleasant or easy situation; an untroubled existence.

   Synonyms: beer and skittles, bowl of cherries; see also Thesaurus:pleasure

   It's a straightforward job, but it's no bed of roses, with such long hours.

   • 1929 December, Betty Boone, “The Price of this Stardom”, in Screenland, page 23:

     Just speak to the stars about the bed of roses which is popularly supposed to be their resting place in the rarified atmosphere of the stellar regions!

   • 1977, Freddie Mercury (lyrics and music), “We Are the Champions”, in News of the World, performed by Queen:

     I thank you all / But it's been no bed of roses / No pleasure cruise

Translations

Translations

• Czech: na růžích ustláno
• Danish: dans på roser c
• Finnish: ruusuilla tanssimista (always in partitive)
• French: ^{(please verify)} partie de plaisir (fr), long fleuve tranquille (fr)
• German: Zuckerschlecken n
• Polish: usłany różami (pl) (an adjective)
• Portuguese: mar de rosas
• Romanian: please add this translation if you can
• Spanish: camino de rosas m, jauja (es) f
• Telugu: ^{(please verify)} పూలపాన్పు (te) (pūlapānpu)