bed of roses

American  

noun

1. a situation of luxurious ease; a highly agreeable position.

   Caring for a houseful of active kids is no bed of roses.

---

bed of roses Idioms  

1. A comfortable or luxurious position, as in Taking care of these older patients is no bed of roses. This metaphor, first recorded in 1635, is often used in a negative context, as in the example. Also see bowl of cherries.

---

Etymology

Origin of bed of roses

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bed of roses

"Life isn't always a bed of roses," she told BBC Radio Sussex.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2025

The road to where we are now has not been a bed of roses.

From Scientific American ● Sep. 21, 2023

Looking back, I realize it wasn't a bed of roses for him.

From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2021

From the England camp, where the honeymoon’s over and suddenly not everything is a bed of roses, but fortunately, Gareth Southgate already knows as much.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 30, 2018

Near our cottage, where the small creek winds under the old wooden bridge, is the most beautiful bed of roses.

From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys