rolling stone

noun

1. a restless or wandering person

Idioms and Phrases

A person who moves about a great deal and never settles down, as in Kate's lived in ten cities in as many years—she's a real rolling stone . This expression is a shortening of the proverb a rolling stone gathers no moss , first recorded in 1523, which indicates that one who never settles anywhere will not do well. After some 300 years of this interpretation, in the mid-1800s the value of gathering moss (and staying put) began to be questioned, and in current usage the term is most often used without any particular value judgment.

Example Sentences

Mullins quotes Stewart from an interview with Rolling Stone.

From The Daily Beast

In the same house where Rolling Stone's Jackie says she was.

From The Daily Beast

But after Rolling Stone's rape story debacle, how much momentum does the call to ban fraternities have left?

From The Daily Beast

UPDATE: Managing editor Will Dana took greater responsibility for Rolling Stone's errors in a series of tweets Friday evening.

From The Daily Beast

Dean Teresa A. Sullivan praised the “overwhelming response by this community to condemn the evil acts” reported by Rolling Stone.

From The Daily Beast

Like me, he entered railway life in 1867; but, p. 69unlike me, has not been a rolling stone.

From Project Gutenberg

But in reply to their warning that "a rolling stone gathers no moss" he said that that was not his aim.

From Project Gutenberg

For years he has been a rolling stone, but always said that when he settled down he would come to Colester.

From Project Gutenberg

We keep repeating the silly proverb that a rolling stone gathers no moss, as if moss were a desirable parasite.

From Project Gutenberg

He is a rolling stone that gathers no moss, but manages to glue itself to greenbacks at every turn.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hobo
• transient
• unhoused person