old maid flower
- noun
- US
:
zinnia
- She planted rows of old maid flowers along the walkway for a cheerful entrance.
Examples
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Marigolds and old maid flowers add splashes of color to her garden each summer.
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Because old maid flowers are hardy and vibrant, they are a favorite among gardeners.
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The garden is full of old maid flowers.
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I love the vibrant colors of old maid flowers.
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The gardener chose old maid flowers for their bright and cheerful blooms that attract butterflies.
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In her backyard, she enjoys the sight of old maid flowers swaying in the summer breeze.
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To brighten up the patio, they arranged old maid flowers in colorful pots.
Synonyms
3
5.8
A plant with bright, colorful flowers often grown in gardens
A garden plant with bright, long lasting flowers on single flower heads
A garden plant with bright flowers often grown for colour
Surface Forms
Morphology
A B1 learner who knows 'old', 'maid' and 'flower' will readily infer that this denotes a type of flower (the word 'flower' makes the category transparent). However, the specific conventional reference to the Zinnia genus and the cultural/idiomatic naming ('old maid') cannot be predicted from the parts, so the expression is only partially predictable.
Etymology
Old maid flower may come from gardeners who thought the small, plain blooms looked like a steady old maid who stayed at home and kept things tidy, and because the flowers are 'long-lasting' the name stuck to zinnias, so it helps you remember they are bright and easy to grow.