Idiom
Primrose path
The primrose path is an easy, pleasant way of living or acting that leads to trouble or ruin.
How people use it
The phrase is literary and a bit old-fashioned. A common pattern is "lead someone down the primrose path," which means tempting them into a bad situation by making it seem easy or delightful. People use it for indulgence, easy credit, false promises and habits that feel good but cause harm. Some writers also use "lead down the primrose path" more loosely to mean simply deceive.
Also said: lead someone down the primrose path.
Examples
- Easy loans led the young couple down the primrose path to serious debt.
- Skipping practice felt nice, but it was a primrose path to losing the season.
- Free trials can lead shoppers down the primrose path of endless monthly fees.
Where it comes from
The phrase comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet, where Ophelia warns her brother not to preach a hard, virtuous life to her while he himself walks the primrose path of pleasure. Shakespeare used a similar image in Macbeth, with "the primrose way." Primroses are pretty spring flowers, so the path looks inviting.
Check yourself
1. What is the primrose path?
Answer: A pleasant road that leads to trouble. The primrose path looks easy and pleasant but ends badly.
2. Which writer gave us this phrase?
Answer: William Shakespeare. It comes from Hamlet, with a similar line in Macbeth.
Similar idioms
Word game fan? See every word hiding in PRIMROSE.