Phrase guide

bed of roses

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /bɛd ʌv ˈɹəʊzəz/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A pleasant or easy situation; an untroubled existence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: beer and skittles, bowl of cherries, beatitude, bliss, delectation, delight, ecstasy, euphoria, lust, nirvana, pleasure, rapture, ravishment, transport

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a flower bed in which roses are growing

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rose bed

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: flowerbed, flower bed, bed of flowers

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: na růžích ustláno — Translations
  • Danish: dans på roser — Translations
  • French: long fleuve tranquille — Translations
  • German: Zuckerschlecken — Translations
  • Polish: życie usłane różami — Translations
  • Portuguese: mar de rosas — Translations
  • Spanish: camino de rosas — Translations
  • Spanish: jauja — Translations
  • Swedish: dans på rosor — Translations
  • Swedish: dans på rosor — Translations