under the rose
Preserved but no longer current.
In strict con- fidence. The origin of the phrase is wrapped in obscurity, but the story is that Cupid gave Harpocrates (the god of silence) a rose, to bribe him not to betray the amours of Venus. Hence the flower became the emblem of silence, and was sculptured on the ceilings of banquet- rooms, to remind the guests that what was spoken sub vino was not to be uttered sub divo. In 1526 it was placed over confessionals.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “under the rose” mean?
In strict con- fidence. The origin of the phrase is wrapped in obscurity, but the story is that Cupid gave Harpocrates (the god of silence) a rose, to bribe him not to betray the amours of Venus. Hence the flower became the emblem of silence, and was sculptured on the ceilings of banquet- rooms, to remind the guests that what was spoken sub vino was not to be uttered sub divo. In 1526 it was placed over confessionals.
Is “under the rose” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.