ENGLISH
REFERENCE

stop and smell the roses

idiom
Meaning

To relax; to take time out of one's busy schedule to enjoy or appreciate the beauty of life.


Examples
SIMPLE

You work too hard — stop and smell the roses.

CONTEXTUAL

She took early retirement so she could finally stop and smell the roses with her grandchildren.

COMPLEX

Caught in the relentless pursuit of success, he forgot to stop and smell the roses until illness forced him to slow down.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a short drop and a sudden stop

    A fall to one's death by hanging.

  2. 02

    bed of roses

    A pleasant or easy situation; an untroubled existence.

  3. 03

    come up roses

    To enter into a condition or situation which is favorable; to develop in a pleasing or advantageous manner.

  4. 04

    couldn't stop a pig in a passage

    To be bow-legged.

  5. 05

    face that would stop a clock

    A shockingly unattractive face.

  6. 06

    moonlight and roses

    A very pleasant, sentimental, or romantic situation or atmosphere.

  7. 07

    put a stop to

    To terminate or abolish something.

  8. 08

    run for the roses

    A college football game or series of games played with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the championship Rose Bowl game.

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