Salad Days: time of youthful inexperience or indiscretion
It’s September in Paraguay, spring, and the month of Dia de la juventud. In this month we celebrate the energy and exuberance of youth. The English expression ‘’Salad days’’ compares the crisp, green leaves of lettuce to the fresh and often inexperienced attitude of youth. (the word green is often used to describe someone with little experience)
The phrase was first used in 1606 by William Shakespeare in Antony and Cleopatra, when Cleopatra says:
"My salad days,
When I was green in judgment, cold in blood,
To say as I said then."
Here are some examples:
The athlete is in his salad days, winning every competition.
Sometimes I feel nostalgic for my salad days, when I could live a life of adventure without responsibility.
They met in their salad days, but have not seen each other since then.