primrose path

noun

a life of ease and pleasure

• Hypernyms: ↑way, ↑path, ↑way of life

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noun

1. : a path of ease or pleasure

had made some progress in the primrose path of Epicurean wisdom — George Santayana

especially : a path of sensual pleasure

the primrose path of dalliance treads — Shakespeare

2. : a path of least resistance; especially : one leading to disaster

leading them down the primrose path of military economy — Newsweek

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1. a way of life devoted to irresponsible hedonism, often of a sensual nature: The evangelist exhorted us to avoid the primrose path and stick to the straight and narrow.

2. a course of action that is easy or tempting but hazardous: the primrose path to insolvency.

[1595-1605]

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primrose path or primrose way noun (from Shakespeare, Hamlet and Macbeth)

The life of pleasure

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Main Entry: ↑primrose

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primrose path,

1. a pleasant or easy way.

2. a path of pleasure: »

He also can try to wheedle his way out of the arms of the anxious lady who has led him down the primrose path (New York Times).

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the pursuit of pleasure, esp. when it is seen to bring disastrous consequences

unaware of his doom, he continued down his primrose path

Origin:

with allusion to Shakespeare's Hamlet i. iii. 50

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primrose path

: an easy way of living or proceeding that will lead to problems later

The mayor is leading us down a/the primrose path by refusing to maintain the roads and only repairing them after they fail.

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Main Entry: ↑primrose