ə bed əv ˈroʊzɪz
- Literally:
- A bed made of rose flowers
What does "a bed of roses" mean?
- A situation or activity that is comfortable, easy, or pleasant
- A carefree or luxurious existence
Examples
- Life as a professional athlete is not a bed of roses.
- Marriage isn't always a bed of roses; it takes work.
- Don't expect your new job to be a bed of roses.
Origin
This phrase dates back to the 16th century, with early references in Christopher Marlowe's poem 'The Passionate Shepherd to His Love' (1599). Roses symbolize beauty and comfort, but also have thorns, which is why it's often used in the negative.
How to use it
Almost always used in negative constructions (e.g., 'not a bed of roses', 'isn't a bed of roses'). Common in both spoken and written English.
Similar expressions
Opposites
Related idioms
- out of the blue
Unexpectedly; without warning
- beat around the bush
To avoid talking about the main point of a conversation
- every cloud has a silver lining
There is something positive in every negative situation
- go with the flow
To accept things as they are and adapt accordingly
- once in a blue moon
Very rarely; almost never
- tip of the iceberg
A small visible part of a much larger hidden problem
Use it in a practice answer
Try "a bed of roses" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.