Etymology

gather rosebuds

Today it means: To enjoy life's immediate pleasures; to behave in a relaxed, carefree manner. Full definition →

Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

The story

From the first line of "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" (inspired by Wisdom 2:8) by Robert Herrick (1591-1674): :: Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, :: Old time is still a-flying; :: And this same flower that smiles today :: Tomorrow will be dying.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.