An unduly idealistic, optimistic, sentimental, or wistful perspective on or about something. Primarily heard in US. I know Sarah looks on our childhood with rose-colored glasses, but I can't put aside how difficult my parents' failing marriage was for all of us.Despite doing worse every quarter for the last two years, our boss keeps seeing the business through rose-colored glasses.You need to take off your rose-colored glasses for a moment and realize that there are serious problems in the world that need fixing.