come up roses
kum up ROH-ziz
/kʌm ʌp ˈroʊzɪz/
To turn out very well, especially after a period of uncertainty or difficulty.
Suggests a pleasant, almost lucky outcome where everything falls into place.
The story behind the word. The idiom evokes the image of a garden where, despite the dirt and manure, beautiful flowers grow. It was popularized by the song 'Everything's Coming Up Roses' from the 1959 musical 'Gypsy'.
Word relationships
- flourish: 'Flourish' is more formal and general, while 'come up roses' implies a specific positive turn of events.
- go south: 'Go south' implies a decline, while 'come up roses' implies a beautiful result.
Commonly confused with
- bed of roses: A 'bed of roses' is an easy life; 'coming up roses' is a successful outcome.
Collocations
- everything's coming up roses
- smell like roses
- turn out roses
Example sentences
- "Despite the early setbacks, everything is coming up roses for the new restaurant." General life
- "He took a huge risk on those stocks, and now everything is coming up roses." Luck
Memory hook
Imagine planting seeds in the mud and seeing beautiful roses bloom unexpectedly. Mud turns to flowers.
When not to use
Can sound a bit old-fashioned or overly optimistic in serious business crises.
Fun facts
- The song from 'Gypsy' was written by Stephen Sondheim and Jule Styne.
Related words
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