come out/up smelling like/of roses
idiom
informal
: to have success or good fortune in a situation in which one was likely to fail, be harmed, etc.
The scandal forced several board members to resign, but the chairman came out smelling like roses.
Cite this Entry
“Come out/up smelling like/of roses.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come%20out%2Fup%20smelling%20like%2Fof%20roses. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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