gather rosebuds

English

Etymology

From the first line of "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" 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.

Pronunciation

Audio (AU) (file)

Verb

gather rosebuds (third-person singular simple present gathers rosebuds, present participle gathering rosebuds, simple past and past participle gathered rosebuds)

(idiomatic) To enjoy life's immediate pleasures; to behave in a relaxed, carefree manner.
- 1890, Louis Napoleon Parker, St. George and the Dragon, Act 1, p. 2 (Google books):
  Pottleby: I like to see young people enjoying their youth—gathering rosebuds.
- 1995, John F. Deane, Flightlines, p. 117 (Google snippet view):
  Gather rosebuds, Gráinne, gather rosebuds. Look at your moths and butterflies and think of possibilities, think of love, Gráinne, think of open spaces and freedom and love.
- 2001 Sep. 10, Garrison Keillor, "In Praise of Laziness," Time (retrieved 5 April 2015):
  But the sun shines on me still, and like any other poet I am gathering rosebuds while I may, for the glory of flowers too soon is past and summer hath too short a lease.
- 2009 Dec. 28, John Tierney, "Carpe Diem? Maybe Tomorrow," New York Times (retrieved 5 April 2015):
  . . . Or the poets who have kept turning out exhortations to seize the day and gather rosebuds.
- 2011 April 22, Tris McCall, "CD Reviews: Helplessness Blues," NJ.com (retrieved 5 April 2015):
  “Fleet Foxes” meandered and gathered rosebuds and killed time, but it also announced the arrival of a significant young songwriter.

Synonyms

carpe diem
seize the day
stop and smell the roses
take the cash and let the credit go