primrose
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lead (one) down the primrose path
To encourage one to lead a life of pleasure and leisure that is ultimately negative or detrimental in some way. After winning the lottery, Jake found himself surrounded by people trying to lead him down the primrose path for their own benefit. The famous singer was led down the primrose path to a life of substance abuse.
the primrose path
A life of pleasure and leisure that results in a negative or detrimental outcome. Usually used in the phrase "lead (one) down the primrose path." After winning the lottery, Jake found himself surrounded by people trying to lead him down the primrose path for their own benefit.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
primrose path
Fig. earthly delights that come to an end. She led him down the primrose path until she got tired of him.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
the primrose path
the pursuit of pleasure, especially when it is seen to bring disastrous consequences.The allusion here is to ‘the primrose path of dalliance’ to which Ophelia refers in Hamlet.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
the primrose ˈpath (to ruin, destruction, etc.)
(literary) an easy life that is full of pleasure but that causes you harm in the end: If we followed your advice we’d all be walking down the primrose path to ruin.This phrase comes from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
primrose path, the
The way of easy self-indulgence. Shakespeare used this term in two ways—as a path of pleasure (“the primrose path of dalliance,” Hamlet, 1.3) and as an easy but dangerous course of action (“the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire,” Macbeth, 2.1). The former meaning survives in the current cliché. See also garden path.
See also: primrose
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer