primrose path, the
the primrose path
A life of pleasure and leisure that results in a negative or detrimental outcome. Usually used in the phrase "lead (one) down the primrose path." After winning the lottery, Jake found himself surrounded by people trying to lead him down the primrose path for their own benefit.
See also: path, primrose
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
primrose path
Fig. earthly delights that come to an end. She led him down the primrose path until she got tired of him.
See also: path, primrose
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
the primrose path
the pursuit of pleasure, especially when it is seen to bring disastrous consequences.The allusion here is to ‘the primrose path of dalliance’ to which Ophelia refers in Hamlet.
See also: path, primrose
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
the primrose ˈpath (to ruin, destruction, etc.)
(literary) an easy life that is full of pleasure but that causes you harm in the end: If we followed your advice we’d all be walking down the primrose path to ruin.This phrase comes from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet.See also: path, primrose
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
primrose path, the
The way of easy self-indulgence. Shakespeare used this term in two ways—as a path of pleasure (“the primrose path of dalliance,” Hamlet, 1.3) and as an easy but dangerous course of action (“the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire,” Macbeth, 2.1). The former meaning survives in the current cliché. See also garden path.
See also: primrose
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- primrose
- primrose path
- the primrose path
- (one's) best foot forward
- a recipe for disaster
- (as) sure as eggs (is eggs)
- 57
- a penny for them
- enough rope, give someone
- Give enough rope and he'll hang himself