picture of

the picture of (something)

The ideal example of something (which is stated after "of"). Yes, Jill was in the hospital a few months ago, but she's the picture of health now. We went running together just the other day. You and your family look like the picture of happiness in these photos!
See also: of, picture
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

(very) picture of something

Fig. the perfect example of something; an exact image of something. The young newlyweds were the picture of happiness. My doctor told me that I was the very picture of good health.
See also: of, picture
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

a (or the) picture of —

the embodiment of a specified state or emotion.
1989 Woman's Realm The…little girl looks a picture of health in her blue dungarees and red boots.
See also: of, picture
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a picture of
  • be the picture of (something)
  • be the picture of health, happiness, etc.
  • innocence
  • the picture of (something)
  • be on the mend
  • mend
  • be in (something) for the long haul
  • be in something for the long haul
  • in (something) for the long haul
References in classic literature
It is Guido's picture of Perseus rescuing Andromeda from the sea-monster or whale.
In this book is an outline purporting to be a Picture of a Physeter or Spermaceti whale, drawn by scale from one killed on the coast of Mexico, August, and hoisted on deck.
He brought out a picture of two curly-headed Italian urchins playing marbles.
There was a clock on the middle of the mantel- piece, with a picture of a town painted on the bottom half of the glass front, and a round place in the middle of it for the sun, and you could see the pendulum swinging behind it.
It was a picture of a young woman in a long white gown, standing on the rail of a bridge all ready to jump off, with her hair all down her back, and looking up to the moon, with the tears running down her face, and she had two arms folded across her breast, and two arms stretched out in front, and two more reaching up towards the moon -- and the idea was to see which pair would look best, and then scratch out all the other arms; but, as I was saying, she died before she got her mind made up, and now they kept this picture over the head of the bed in her room, and every time her birthday come they hung flowers on it.
It immediately suggested the picture of two people sitting alone over the fire; the man was reading, the woman sewing.
In looking round upon the other pieces, I remarked a pretty sketch of Linden-hope from the top of the hill; another view of the old hall basking in the sunny haze of a quiet summer afternoon; and a simple but striking little picture of a child brooding, with looks of silent but deep and sorrowful regret, over a handful of withered flowers, with glimpses of dark low hills and autumnal fields behind it, and a dull beclouded sky above.
In his hands was a primer opened at a picture of a little ape similar to himself, but covered, except for hands and face, with strange, colored fur, for such he thought the jacket and trousers to be.
Presently he found it beneath a picture of another little ape and a strange animal which went upon four legs like the jackal and resembled him not a little.
Baynes buried his face in his hands and rocked back and forth as the hideous picture of her fate burned itself into his consciousness.
Dr Shaariibuu Setev, the father of slain Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, told the High Court here that he has seen the picture of a murdered Mongolian woman together with two men which was produced to the court.
Picture of my garden, by Ian Laurie, |of Egglescliffe
Upload your favourite snaps at flickr.com/groups/ favourite Flickr pictures of the year - dailypost - it's free and - selected by members of the Daily Post group we publish regular selections of the best Desh Kapur's picture of the beach at Llanfairechan was taken on June 4 using a Canon EOS 400D Digital
Picture 2: Yvonne Swindell, of Smethwick, sent this picture of Pepsi telling Santa she's been a good girl this year.
Picture 1: A snow family, taken by readers Lorna and Craig Picture 2: John Griffin's local pub on Red House Farm in Gosforth looks amazing in the snow Picture 3: Summer snowgirl made by Andrea, Neil and seven-year-old Brad in Wallsend Picture 4: Alan and Eunice Robson of Dunston snapped this little fella bringing them their Evening Chronicle Picture 5: Lee Stokoe's snowman in Prudhoe Picture 6: Noel Harris took this picture of council workers on Chillingham Road in Newcastle.