proverbial rose?

[smk]

What does "proverbial rose" mean in the following quote?

"I‘m quite sure that Ellen Foster has built her political cover at the very highest level,‖
said Bunting. ―She excels at stabbing people in the back. And chances are very good she‘ll come out smelling like the proverbial rose."

[5jj]

It's a reference to the saying, "If X fell into a pile of sh*t, he’d come out smelling of roses".

The writer assumes that we all know the saying, so it becomes 'proverbial'.

[smk]

Thank you, 5jj!!! I've never heard of this saying before but now I understand the quote better. Thanks. By any chance do you know the origins of this saying?

[5jj]

Thank you, 5jj!!! I've never heard of this saying before but now I understand the quote better. Thanks. By any chance do you know the origins of this saying?

I have no idea. I imagine somebody said it once, and other people liked the idea and used it. There are more modern versions, but I can't think of any at the moment. If we are patient, others will produce some.