come up smelling like a rose

come up 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 the feds started snooping around, the CEO pocketed millions and still came up smelling like a rose.
See also: come, like, rose, smell, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

come up smelling like a rose

 and come up smelling like roses
Fig. to end up looking good or respectable after being involved in some difficult or notorious affair. I was surprised that my congressional representative came up smelling like a rose after his colleagues investigated him.
See also: come, like, rose, smell, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • come up smelling like roses
  • come up smelling like roses, to
  • come up smelling of roses
  • come up/out of something smelling of roses
  • come out smelling like a rose
  • come out smelling of roses
  • go there
  • wishcast
  • the goods on
  • the goods on (someone or something)