hothouse flower
Sheltered ornamental plant
A hothouse flower is a plant raised in a greenhouse—protected from harsh weather and natural conditions.
The phrase usually appears figuratively for a person considered overly sheltered or delicate, unable to handle ordinary difficulties: She's no hothouse flower; she can take care of herself.
The implication is that such people, like greenhouse plants, wilt when exposed to the real world.
Climate-controlled plant enclosure
- conservatoryGlass-enclosed plant room
- orchidShowy tropical flower
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- nurseryRoom for infants
humidity · propagation · bloom · gardenia · camellia · fuchsia · begonia · forcing
Easily broken or damaged
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
- tenderSoft or sore
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
- gossamerFilmy, delicate material
dainty · frail · ephemeral · vulnerable · perishable · fleeting · wispy · finespun
Lavished with indulgence
- cossetedOverprotected and indulged
- coddledExcessively sheltered or indulged
- protectedKept from harm
- overprotectedGuarded to excess
naive · inexperienced · unworldly · privileged · cloistered · insulated · dependent · spoiled
Highly esteemed, greatly valued
- high-maintenanceRequiring excessive attention
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- prima donnaTemperamental, self-important person
- demandingRequiring great effort
needy · fussy · hypersensitive · thin-skinned · coddled · rarefied · spoiled · diva
greenhouse
Climate-controlled plant enclosure
- conservatoryGlass-enclosed plant room
- orchidShowy tropical flower
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
nursery · humidity · propagation · bloom · gardenia · camellia · fuchsia · begonia · forcing · glasshouse
fragile
Easily broken or damaged
gossamer · dainty · frail · ephemeral · vulnerable · perishable · fleeting · wispy · finespun · silken
pampered
Lavished with indulgence
overprotected · naive · inexperienced · unworldly · privileged · cloistered · insulated · dependent · spoiled · indulged
precious
Highly esteemed, greatly valued
- high-maintenanceRequiring excessive attention
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- prima donnaTemperamental, self-important person
demanding · needy · fussy · hypersensitive · thin-skinned · coddled · rarefied · spoiled · diva · entitled
hothouse flowerhardy plant
Resilient outdoor vegetation
weed · survivor · tough cookie · cockroach · ironclad
hothouse flowerwildflower
Uncultivated flowering plant
weed · native plant · invasive species · roadside flower · scrub
hothouse flowerstreet-smart
Urban survival instincts
tough customer · rough diamond · scrapper · old hand · world-weary
house, flower, hotter, hottest, hotly, hotness, houses, housed, housing