# salad days

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/salad-days
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A period of inexperienced youthful innocence accompanied by enthusiasm and idealism.

## Examples

- He often remembers his salad days with a smile.
- During their reunion, the old friends spent the evening reminiscing about their salad days as struggling artists in the city.
- Though he had achieved great wealth and status, he secretly longed for the simplicity and unbridled optimism of his salad days.

## Origin

Coined by William Shakespeare in Antony and Cleopatra around 1607, see quotations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.