Said by the flower

To say something through the flower or to say bluntly (documented since the 16th century) is a phrase used to express the cautious, friendly criticism - often with pictorial hints.

The idiom probably goes back to the language of flowers , in which certain flowers are assigned certain statements, which can be encrypted in this way - through the flower - and protect the recipient. The opposite is bluntly shown : Whoever says something bluntly, expresses himself straightforwardly and without consideration. A common ironic response to criticism expressed by the flower or bluntly is "Thank you for the flowers," which either means understanding the hidden criticism or indicates that the criticism was too openly expressed.

The Latin term flosculus 'little flower' was already known in ancient rhetoric for a veiled expression. This is where the German word " phrase " came from.

Up until the 19th century, the educated people used to say sub rosa (literally 'under a rose') in Latin .

Web links

• Said by the flower at Sayings Index
• Said by the flower information text at Redensarten.net