Meaning & use
rose colored shades
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Meaning
phrasepluralfigurative
An unrealistic, overly optimistic way of seeing things, as if everything is better than it really is.
Grammar: Used as a plural noun phrase, often after 'through' or 'with': see the world through rose colored shades.
Patterns
- see something through rose colored shades
- look at something through rose colored shades
- wear rose colored shades
He looks at his old school through rose colored shades, forgetting how strict the teachers were.
If you view the project through rose colored shades, you will miss the real problems.
She wore rose colored shades about the company until she saw the financial reports.
Common combinations
- through rose colored shades
- They remember their childhood through rose colored shades.
- see the world through rose colored shades
- Young entrepreneurs often see the world through rose colored shades.
- look at something through rose colored shades
- The critic looked at the new film through rose colored shades.
- wear rose colored shades
- You are wearing rose colored shades if you think this plan has no risks.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rose-colored glasses
- The usual form of this idiom; 'rose colored shades' is a less common variant with the same figurative meaning.
- optimism
- A general noun for hopefulness; it does not carry the idea of being unrealistic that the idiom suggests.
- idealism
- Similar in suggesting belief in perfect outcomes, but it often refers to principles rather than a distorted view.
Word family
- rose-colored adjective
- Having a pink color; in figurative use, unrealistically hopeful.
Commonly confused: rose colored shades or rose-tinted glasses?
rose colored shades vs rose-tinted glasses
A British variant of the same idiom. 'Rose colored shades' is an American variant and is less standard.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'rose colored shades' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The idiom means an overly optimistic view, so 'sees his hometown through rose colored shades' fits. The other options use 'rose colored shades' literally as sunglasses or colors, which is not the figurative meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rose colored shades”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.