Learn English – What does “salad days” mean, and when was it coined

etymologyidiomsmeaning

What does salad days mean? I've heard the term used to describe past better days, but what does that have to do with salad?

Also, when was the phrase coined?

Best Answer

It refers to the time of youth when one was naive and inexperienced, and therefore happy and optimistic - in other words, when one was "green," as in "unripe" or "not yet mature." It's a bit of a convoluted pun.

Like so many English idioms, the term was coined by Shakespeare in the 17th century (Antony and Cleopatra.)