# stop and smell the roses

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/stop-and-smell-the-roses
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- You work too hard — stop and smell the roses.
- She took early retirement so she could finally stop and smell the roses with her grandchildren.
- Caught in the relentless pursuit of success, he forgot to stop and smell the roses until illness forced him to slow down.

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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.