| Idiom | Smell like a Rose |
|---|---|
| Example | Even though Sam causes all the trouble, he comes up smelling like a rose. |
| Meaning | to look good in a bad situation; to avoid a damaged reputation when involved with corruption; to appear pure and innocent |
| Origin | Most people love the smell of roses, and there are many perfumes that try to capture their fragrance. The American writer who thought up this early 20th-century expression must have imagined someone who falls into something filthy such as a swamp and amazingly manages to come out smelling sweet. |
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