After visiting two delightful gardens last weekend – one belonging to the National Trust and a private one open under the National Gardens Scheme – I was inspired to research gardening idioms for this week’s post.
As with most idiomatic phrases in English, few gardening idioms have anything to do with things that grow in the garden or gardening activities per se.
But whether you’re a keen gardener or prefer to relax with a glass in hand admiring other people’s handiwork, hopefully you’ll discover one or two interesting new sayings amongst this bumper collection.
Blooming marvellous
A bed of roses = a situation or activity that’s comfortable or easy (often used negatively)
A late bloomer = someone who only achieves success later in life
A rose amongst thorns = someone/something nice between two not-so-pleasant people/things
A shrinking violet = a timid or shy person
A thorn in the flesh/side = a person or thing causing persistent irritation
A wallflower = an introvert who prefers to remain at the edge of social events
As busy as a bee = very busy, industrious
As fresh as a daisy = lively and attractive
Everything in the garden is rosy = there are no problems in a situation (often used in a negative context)
Flowery speech = full of lovely words but lacking in substance
The bloom is off the rose = something that’s no longer new, fresh or exciting
To come up smelling of roses = emerge from a difficult situation with one’s reputation intact
To gild the lily = decorate something that’s already ornate
To have a bee in one’s bonnet = be obsessively preoccupied with something
To nip in the bud = prevent a problem from growing worse by dealing with it an early stage
Money doesn’t grow on trees
An old chestnut = a joke, story or idea that’s become tedious because of constant repetition
Mighty oaks from little acorns grow = all big or great things start off small
To be unable to see the wood for the trees = unable to see the whole situation as focused on the details
To beat about/around the bush = go about something in a roundabout way; avoid coming to the point
To grow on trees = be plentiful or easily obtained (usually used negatively)
Touch wood (or knock on wood) = words spoken to avoid bad luck, usually accompanied by the speaker tapping on something wooden
Up a gum tree = stuck in a difficult or embarrassing situation
How does your garden grow?
Salad days = one’s days of youth and inexperience
Salt of the earth = someone who shows great kindness, reliability and honesty
Seed money = money used to start a small business
Small dog, tall weeds = someone who lacks the ability or resources necessary to perform a task
The grass is always greener (on the other side of the fence) = other people’s lives or situations always seem better than our own
To cherry-pick = choose only the best people or things in an unfair manner
To go to seed = stop caring about one’s health or appearance
To grasp the nettle = tackle a problem with bravery
To hear on/through the grapevine = acquire information via rumour
To let the grass grow under one’s feet = delay taking action
To put down roots = start to lead a settled life in a particular place
To reap what one sows = get what one deserves
To sow the seed(s) of = do something which will eventually bring about a particular result
Tools of the trade
A tough row to hoe = a difficult task to carry out
Green fingers/thumb = ability or knack for gardening
In spades = as much as or more than could be desired
To call a spade a spade = speak plainly or bluntly
To dig deep = draw on one’s physical, mental or financial resources
To dig oneself into a hole = make things worse for oneself
To give it some welly = exert more effort or strength
To have a dig at someone = say something indirectly to someone to annoy them
To kick the bucket = die
To lay it on with a trowel = flatter excessively; exaggerate grossly
Miscellaneous gardening idioms
Between you, me and the gatepost = indicates that a confidence is about to be shared
Common-or-garden = very ordinary
To lead up/down the garden path = deceive or mislead someone
To make a mountain out of a molehill = make a small problem seem much greater than it really is
To mend fences = reconcile conflicting views; restore a broken relationship
To shake like a leaf = tremble with fear or nervousness
To turn over a new leaf = make a fresh start; resolve to change one’s ways for the better
As with most of the other blog posts in this series, I learnt several new idioms while putting this one together – my favourite being: Small dog, tall weeds.
Were there any expressions that were new to you? Or any other gardening idioms you think should be included? Do please share below.
(images courtesy of Feelart, rakratchada torsap, adamr and Simon Howden via Freedigitalphotos.net)
This is a great post. It has more useful information for gardening idioms. I like it. I learned a lot from it. It will help me. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks Jimmy – I’m glad you found it useful
I loved this compilation! My friends are definitely going to hate me next time we’re in a garden.
Thanks Ken – I’m thrilled that you enjoyed them! Do check out some of my other Idioms posts in the series 🙂
Such a great collection! How about “finding common ground”?
That’s a great addition – don’t know how I missed that one! Glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for stopping by to leave a comment 🙂