guilty pleasure
Something that one enjoys or finds pleasurable but knows or feels to be bad, inferior, aberrant, or lowbrow, especially as might be perceived or judged by other people. I know these gossip magazines are trashy, but reading them on my commute home is my guilty pleasure!
lady of pleasure
euphemism A prostitute. A: "I think that Lord Stewart is spending time with a lady of pleasure." B: "No, surely not!"
Business before pleasure.
Prov. You should finish your work before starting to relax and enjoy yourself. Alan: Hi, Ted. Shall we get something to drink? Ted: Business before pleasure, Alan. Do you have the reports I asked you to bring? I'd love to go water-skiing with you now, but I have a few things to do in the office first. Business before pleasure, I'm afraid.
He that would go to sea for pleasure, would go to hell for a pastime.
Prov. Being a sailor is so unpleasant that anyone who would do it for fun must be crazy. Old Sailor: Why did you decide to go to sea? Young Sailor: I thought it would be fun. Old Sailor: He that would go to sea for pleasure, would go to hell for a pastime.
(I) don't believe I've had the pleasure.
Fig. an expression meaning I haven't met you yet. Tom: I'm Tom Thomas. I don't believe I've had the pleasure. Bill: Hello. I'm Bill Franklin. Tom: Nice to meet you, Bill. Bill: Likewise. Bob: Looks like rain. Fred: Sure does. Oh, I don't believe I've had the pleasure. Bob: I'm Bob, Bob Jones. Fred: My name is Fred Wilson. Glad to meet you.
My pleasure.
1. You're welcome.; It is my pleasure to do so. (From It's my pleasure. There is a stress on both words.) Mary: Thank you for bringing this up here. Bill: My pleasure. Jane: Oh, Doctor, you've really helped Tom. Thank you so much! Doctor: My pleasure.
2. Happy to meet you.; Happy to see you. Sally: Bill, meet Mary, my cousin. Bill: My pleasure.
stolen fruit is sweetest
and stolen pleasures are sweetestProv. People often enjoy illicit things just because they are illicit. To judge from the number of his extramarital affairs, John must believe that stolen pleasures are sweetest.
There is no pleasure without pain.
Prov. For every pleasure you enjoy, you must suffer some pain. We had a fabulous vacation, but it's going to take us years to pay for it. Oh, well, there's no pleasure without pain. Yesterday I basked in the warm sunshine all afternoon; today I'm badly sunburned. There is no pleasure without pain.
With pleasure.
a phrase indicating eager consent to do something. Fred: Would you please take this note over to the woman in the red dress? Waiter: With pleasure, sir. Sue: Would you kindly bring in the champagne now? Jane: With pleasure.