primrose path

Language: en

Meaning: Aneasyandpleasantlife; aself-indulgentorhedonisticlife; such a life that leads todamnation.c.1599–1602(date written),William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, inMr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies[…](First Folio), London:[…]Isaac Iaggard, andEd[ward]Blount, published1623,→OCLC,[Act I, scene iii]:But, good my brother, / Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, / Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven; / Whiles, like a puff'd and reckless libertine, / Himself theprimrose pathof dalliance treads, / And recks not his own rede.1891,Oscar Wilde, “Lord Arthur Savile's Crime”, inLord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories:Many men in his position would have preferred theprimrose pathof dalliance to the steep heights of duty; but Lord Arthur was too conscientious to set pleasure above principle.1902,George Edward Woodberry,Nathaniel Hawthorne, Chapter 2: The Chamber under the Eaves,Cilley, his old college mate, was just elected to Congress from Maine, Pierce was just elected Senator from New Hampshire, and Longfellow had found the ways of literature as smooth as theprimrose pathto the everlasting bonfire.1911,Frederic Taber Cooper,PrefacetoThe Craftsmanship of Writing,The laurels of authorship are worth the winning largely because there is noprimrose pathleading to them.; Adeceptivelyeasyorappealingcourse of action that leads oneastrayor intoerror.1986, Stuart Shanker,Philosophy in Britain Today,page118:The route from the desire for rationality via the desire for objectivity to descriptivism is a well trodden one; but it is nevertheless aprimrose path; for, as we shall see, it leads those who follow it into one or another form of relativism, which is precisely what these thinkers are trying to avoid. They can only avoid it by retracing their steps.Thisprimrose pathstarts from the assumption that the only way to achieve rationality is to secure objectivity.2003, Loretta A. Malandro,Say It Right the First Time,page113:The meanings of words are obscure enough, without adding language that results in reactions and misunderstandings. By using jargon, clichés, exaggeration, and unnecessary words, we will be led down theprimrose pathof misdirection.2011, Margaret Brennan Bermel,The Cancer Odyssey,page40:The oncologist may hand you the drug information booklet (as is legally required), and then tell you not to read the information too closely because it may scare you. Do not be led down theprimrose path. Read the booklet.; (euphemistic)The life ofprostitution.1902,George Bernard Shaw,The Author's Apology, in (1902 edition of)Mrs Warren's Profession,2006 Gutenberg eBook edition,Even if these purely official catastrophes carried any conviction, the majority of English girls remain so poor, so dependent, so well aware that the drudgeries of such honest work as is within their reach are likely enough to lead them eventually to lung disease, premature death, and domestic desertion or brutality, that they would still see reason to prefer theprimrose pathto the strait path of virtue, since both, vice at worst and virtue at best, lead to the same end in poverty and overwork.1940March 25, “Movie of the Week:Primrose Path”, inLife,page48:She is now, at the age of 17, faced with turning from the straight and narrow path she has so far trod to theprimrose pathof her mother and grandmother.2002, Bernhard A. Baur, editor,Encyclopaedic Study of Woman and Love,page381:There is one thing that male citizens must note. They must not give countenance to prostitution ; they must not demand the commodity and thus increase the supply; they must not tread theprimrose pathand contract venereal disease and then spread it. Men too must show a conscience in the matter.

Examples:

EN: - I remember, in my early youth... I trod the primrose path on the Great White Way.
ES: - Recuerdo que, cuando era joven viví una vida de placeres en el distrito teatral.
EN: This doesn't look like a saunter through the primrose path...
ES: Admito que pueda dar la impresión de...
EN: Back on the primrose path and acting as mentor to her little sister.
ES: Ha vuelto a las andadas y ahora haciendo de mentor de su hermana pequeña.
EN: But, good my brother, do not, as some ungracious pastors do, show me the steep and thorny way to heaven whilst, like a puffed and reckless libertine himself the primrose path of dalliance treads... and minds not his own creed.
ES: Mas no me muestres, hermano, cual ruin predicador, ...la empinada y espinosa senda al cielo, ...si él, cual libertino atolondrado, toma el camino de rosas del retozo, - ... olvidando su credo.
EN: That way is the primrose path of dalliance.
ES: Por ahí es la vía engalanada de flores que conduce al placer.
EN: Chief Screaming Chicken, I think you've been led down a primrose path.
ES: Jefe Gallina Gritando, creo que te han llevado por un camino de rosas.
EN: It was such a shock that it stripped away the last vestiges of the fiction and fanciful interpretations that had led us down this primrose path into disaster.
ES: Fue tan fuerte el shock que acabó con los últimos vestigios de ficción y expectativas fantasiosas que nos habían llevado por este camino primaveral hacia el desastre. Después de eso nadie estuvo convencido.
EN: Leave the primrose path of sin and wickedness and enter into the fold along with all the other poor sheep...
ES: Abandonad el camino del pecado y el mal y entrad en el redil con todas las pobres ovejas...
EN: But, good my brother, do not, as some ungracious pastors do, show me the steep and thorny way to heaven, whiles, like a puff'd and reckless libertine, himself the primrose path of dalliance treads and recks not his own rede.
ES: Pero, mi buen hermano, no hagas como algunos malos predicadores que enseñan el empinado y espinoso camino del cielo mientras ellos, cual jactanciosos y procaces libertinos, pisan la senda florida de los placeres y no siguen su propia doctrina.
EN: What you have done to these... gentle damsels... I accuse you, sir, of leading them down the primrose path.
ES: Por lo que les ha hecho a estas... gentiles damiselas,... le acuso, señor, de llevarles por el camino fácil de la perdición.
EN: * I'm on the primrose path *
ES: * Estoy en la avenida de la primavera *
EN: He is just leading you down the primrose path.
ES: Él la ha estado engañando.
EN: Once again, I've led you down an emotional primrose path.
ES: Una vez mas te deje caer en un primoroso camino emocional.
EN: But, good my brother, do not, as some ungracious pastors do show me the steep and thorny way to heaven whilst like a puffed and reckless libertine himself the primrose path of dalliance treads and recks not his own rede.
ES: Pero, mi buen hermano, no me enseñes, como los malos sacerdotes la espinosa pendiente hacia el cielo mientras como un engreído y fatuo libertino sigues el sendero florido y necio desdeñando su propio discurso.
EN: You don't wanna be led down the primrose path.
ES: No quieres ser decepcionado.

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