rolling stone

rolling stone

A person who wanders or travels often and at length, without settling down for any significant period of time. Based on the proverb "a rolling stone gathers no moss." I never knew my father very well. He became a bit of a rolling stone after my sister was born, so he'd only ever hang around for a week or two at a time.
See also: roll, stone
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

rolling stone

A person who moves about a great deal and never settles down, as in Kate's lived in ten cities in as many years-she's a real rolling stone. This expression is a shortening of the proverb a rolling stone gathers no moss, first recorded in 1523, which indicates that one who never settles anywhere will not do well. After some 300 years of this interpretation, in the mid-1800s the value of gathering moss (and staying put) began to be questioned, and in current usage the term is most often used without any particular value judgment.
See also: roll, stone
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a rolling stone

a person who does not settle in one place for long.
This expression comes from the proverb a rolling stone gathers no moss , meaning that a person who is always moving on will not accumulate wealth or status, or responsibilities or commitments.
See also: roll, stone
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a rolling ˈstone (gathers no ˈmoss)

(saying) a person who moves from place to place, job to job, etc. and so does not have a lot of money, possessions or friends but is free from responsibilities
See also: roll, stone
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • teach a man to fish
  • it takes a village
  • village
  • a man is judged by the company he keeps
  • a man is known by the company he keeps
  • tomorrow never comes
  • after a storm comes a calm
  • after the storm comes a calm
  • calm
  • the best-laid plans of mice and men
References in periodicals archive
Waref Hawasli, managing partner, HGW Media, said: "This is Rolling Stone Middle East's first Battle of the Bands and we are excited to involve ourselves in the region's musical culture.
Speaking through the PR minion who no doubt penned his statement, Waref Hawasli, Managing Partner of HGW Media, said: "We are excited to be introducing Rolling Stone Middle East to the market.
Russell has made his name by being the only photographer to have shot album covers for all three of what some consider the greatest groups in rock history: the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Who.
He was executive producer on the Rolling Stones film Shine A Light.
Rolling Stone will celebrate its new carbon-free process by featuring a series of articles devoted to the climate change crisis, including an interview with former Vice President Al Gore, an in-depth report on global warming solutions by environmental advocate Robert F.
Seemingly every week in the mid-Sixties life-changing, revelatory records would appear - The Beatles' Revolver (a more likely candidate for best Fabs album), The Who's My Generation, Love's Forever Changes, Frank Zappa's Freak Out and of course The Byrds' Mr Tambourine Man which, in reflecting Dylan's song of visionary yearning back at him in all its electric glory, did more than anything to set the maestro on a journey that would reach its apotheosis in Like A Rolling Stone.
A Miller spokesman, quoted by the Associated Press, said the company started with a broad wish list, but its choices were limited to Rolling Stone covers.
The cans issued by Milwaukee-based Miller featured Rolling Stone cover shots of Elvis Presley, Blondie, Alice Cooper, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Willie Nelson, as well as two showing the guitars of Eric Clapton and Joe Walsh.
PC Magazine and CNET both picked the inMotion as an 'Editor's Choice'; Rolling Stone gave the inMotion 3 out of 4 stars, while Wired magazine scored it 8 out of 10 and Network World tallied a perfect 5 out of 5.
Now you can cop a fix just by picking up rolling Stone, the self-styled countercultural institution that once upon a time showcased the pharmaceutically fueled writings of America's premier pill popper, Hunter S.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer Bill Wyman was asked to "cease and desist" using his own name by the lawyers of former Rolling Stone bassist Bill Wyman.
Rolling Stone made an encouraging return to the track after a year's absence when fourth behind Houdini's Honey in a 10-furlong Windsor maiden last month, and can make up for lost time in the Renate Services Maiden Stakes (3.30).
In this excerpt from the new book Rolling Stone: The '70s, New York Daily News pop-music critic Jim Farber recalls how glam made it safe for one gay teen to explore his sexuality.
Real Networks Inc has unveiled a Radio Toolkit, Rolling Stone Radio and the beta of a pay-per-listen jukebox in a raft of announcements timed to coincide with the WebNoize conference in Los Angeles this week.
But perhaps the more significant entry on the scene was Rolling Stone, a magazine "not just about music," founder Jann Wenner wrote in the first issue in 1967, "but also about the things and attitudes that music embraces." The magazine sought to capture the edge of avant-garde musicians by writing profiles with verve, style, and intimacy.