Dictionary Home » The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms » bowl of cherries, life is just a

bowl of cherries, life is just a

bowl of cherries, life is just a idiom
These are happy circumstances; life is wonderful. This phrase is often used ironically, as in My husband is about to get laid off—life is just a bowl of cherries, right? Originating as the title of a song (1931) by Lew Brown (lyrics) and composer Ray Henderson, this term expressed the idea that everything was going very well. However, its ironical use was established by the 1970s. Also see bed of roses.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.