ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rolling stone

idiom
Meaning

A person who moves around a lot and never settles down; a vagrant.


Origin

disputed origin

From the proverb a rolling stone gathers no moss.

Examples
SIMPLE

He's a rolling stone who never stays in one city.

CONTEXTUAL

She lived in six countries in ten years — a real rolling stone with no permanent home.

COMPLEX

The old man, a rolling stone who had crossed three continents and loved a dozen women, finally returned to the village of his birth to die.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    carved in stone

    Unchangeable.

  2. 02

    cast the first stone

    To act self-righteously in accusing another person, believing oneself to be blameless.

  3. 03

    get blood out of a stone

    To do something difficult, frustrating, or pointless.

  4. 04

    get the ball rolling

    To begin; to start some action; to set in motion.

  5. 05

    keep the ball rolling

    To continue an action indicated in the context; to sustain a process.

  6. 06

    kill two birds with one stone

    To solve two problems with one single action.

  7. 07

    leave no stone unturned

    To search or investigate thoroughly.

  8. 08

    rolling in it

    Having an abundance of money; rich, very prosperous.

© 2026 English Reference