a rose by any other name (would smell as sweet)(redirected from a rose by any other name would smell as sweet)
a rose by any other name (would smell as sweet)
What someone or something is called does not change their innate characteristics or attributes. The shorter version of the phrase is often used when describing undesirable people or things. The full line is from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, in which Juliet bemoans the fact that Romeo, whom she loves, is a Montague, her family's rivals. You can dress up his treasonous actions with whatever heroic descriptors you like, but it still remains treason. A rose by any other name, as they say. Honestly, I don't care if they end up changing the name of my town. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, and this will always be home.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
rose by any other name would smell as sweet
Prov. The nature of a thing is more important than what it is called. (From Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet.) Bob was upset when his job title was changed from "administrative assistant" to "secretary." We tried to convince him that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
a ˈrose by any other name (would smell as ˈsweet)(saying) what is important is what people or things are, not what they are calledThis phrase comes from Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017