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3. come out smelling of roses

come out smelling of roses

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come out/up smelling of roses

  (British & Australian) also come out/up smelling like roses (American)

if you come out smelling of roses, people believe you are good and honest after a difficult situation which could have made you seem bad or dishonest There was a major fraud investigation, but Smith still came out smelling of roses.

See also: come, of, out, rose, smell