come out smelling like a rose
come out smelling like a rose
To maintain a favorable reputation despite involvement in a scandalous or otherwise negative situation. By reporting his colleagues as soon as he learned of their dishonest business practices, the CEO came out smelling like a rose.
See also: come, like, out, rose, smell
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
come out smelling like a rose
Fig. to succeed; to do better than anyone else in some situation. Everyone else in the firm lost money in the real estate deal, but Bob came out smelling like a rose. If I can just finish my research paper on time, I'll come out smelling like a rose by the end of the school year.
See also: come, like, out, rose, smell
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- come out smelling of roses
- come up/out of something smelling of roses
- come up smelling like a rose
- come up smelling like roses
- come up smelling like roses, to
- come up smelling of roses
- go there
- wishcast
- wishcasting
- the goods on