pastures new

pastures new

A new job or place to live that offers new experiences or opportunities. Primarily heard in UK. Starting next month, I'll be packing up my job with the newspaper and heading off to pastures new. I've loved living in London, but it's time to find pastures new.
See also: new, pasture
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

pastures new

BRITISH
COMMON If someone moves on to pastures new, they leave their present place or situation and move to a new one. Michael decided he wanted to move on to pastures new for financial reasons. I found myself packing a suitcase and heading for pastures new. Note: You can also talk about moving on to new pastures or fresh pastures. No matter how much we long for new pastures, when we reach them they can seem like a bad idea. Note: This is a quotation from `Lycidas' (1638) by the English poet Milton: `At last he rose, and twitch'd his Mantle blew: Tomorrow to fresh Woods, and Pastures new.' This is sometimes wrongly quoted as `fresh fields and pastures new'.
See also: new, pasture
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

(fresh fields and) pastures new

a place or activity regarded as offering new opportunities.
The expression is a slightly garbled version of a line from Milton's poem Lycidas ( 1637 ): ‘Tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures new’.
See also: new, pasture
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌpastures ˈnew

a new job, place to live, way of life, etc: After 10 years as a teacher, Jen felt it was time to move on to pastures new. Without warning, she left him for pastures new.
See also: new, pasture
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • new pastures
  • get on (someone or something)
  • a good innings
  • inning
  • it's more than my job's worth
  • more than your job's worth
  • have had a good innings
  • ease into (something)
  • ease someone into (something)
  • give somebody/get the sack
References in classic literature
Sometimes, having had a surfeit of human society and gossip, and worn out all my village friends, I rambled still farther westward than I habitually dwell, into yet more unfrequented parts of the town, "to fresh woods and pastures new," or, while the sun was setting, made my supper of huckleberries and blueberries on Fair Haven Hill, and laid up a store for several days.
"And now the sun had stretched out all the hills, And now was dropped into the western bay; At last HE rose, and twitched his mantle blue; Tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures new."
These transient youths who attend our university choose our MP for us and then depart for pastures new, leaving us to live with the results of their choices born of inexperience.
The parent swans by instinct know, That grown up cygnets have to show, Maturity by flying to pastures new, Does this story sound familiar to any of you?
HOW the years have flown Since you went away Taken long before your time On that fatal day You will never grow old For you time stands still Your beauty will never fade Nor your hair turn grey In the place where you lie As time drifts away When you left A part of my heart went with you Left in its place Sorrow and tears Darkness and despair All around me everywhere Those dark days have long gone With the passing of time I often think of you Even time has moved on Locked in my memory Never to fade away Always to be part of me Until my time comes To leave for pastures new My spirit may linger Or reach the heavens high Once more to find you To have you by my side.
He is the driving force of this region and the Ospreys will be desperate the Lions Test star signs a new contract at the Liberty Stadium rather than leave for pastures new. That wish looks increasingly likely to happen with Rhys Webb also in line to sign.
The shoe retailer will today leave Rhyl's White Rose Centre to head for pastures new - down the coast to Prestatyn.
Lee Croft is returning to Oldham and veteran defender Frazer Wright might be tempted by pastures new despite a 12-month extension tabled this week.
That may be down to the takeover talks that are taking place but Vlaar could fall through the net and head for pastures new unless a swift decision is taken by the club's hierarchy.
According to reports, the Red Devils are still keen to sign Vidal and he is desperate to leave Juventus for pastures new, having struggled this term.
THEATRE Adrian Jackson | Garrick chief on move to Grand LICHFIELD Garrick Theatre's chief executive Adrian Jackson is moving on to pastures new.
Instead it is likely to be a case of pastures new for the fallen French international who has struggled for fitness and form with Hull.
SHAUN LYCETT has moved to pastures new, albeit relatively close pastures, as the trainer is now ensconced in a new purpose-built yard.
The 28-year-old has had eight clubs since leaving his native Nigeria for pastures new.
After five very happy years sounding off on this page, it's time for me to move on to pastures new.