love-lies-bleeding
LowFormal, Literary, Gardening/Technical
Definition
Meaning
A tall annual plant (Amaranthus caudatus) with drooping, tassel-like red or purple flower clusters.
A flowering ornamental plant, often grown in gardens for its striking, long, rope-like crimson inflorescences. The name is poetically evocative of its visual appearance.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a compound common name for a specific plant. The meaning is fixed and referential; it is not used metaphorically to describe emotional states, despite its evocative name.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both varieties but is more common in gardening and botanical contexts. No major lexical differences.
Connotations
Evokes a somewhat old-fashioned, poetic, or cottage-garden aesthetic.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, primarily confined to horticulture.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [adj] love-lies-bleeding [verb] in the border.We planted/sowed/grew love-lies-bleeding.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in horticultural trade (seed packets, nursery catalogs).
Academic
Used in botanical or horticultural texts.
Everyday
Very rare in general conversation; used by keen gardeners.
Technical
Standard common name in horticulture and botany.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The garden has red flowers called love-lies-bleeding.
- We planted some love-lies-bleeding in our flower bed last spring.
- The deep crimson tassels of the love-lies-bleeding created a striking contrast with the yellow rudbeckias.
- A classic component of Victorian cottage gardens, love-lies-bleeding provides both height and a dramatic, pendulous texture.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a romantic, tragic scene where 'Love' lies down, 'bleeding' crimson red flowers onto the ground.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PLANT IS A BODY/WOUND (source of the name, based on visual resemblance to flowing blood).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate the components literally ('любовь-ложь-кровотечение') as it is a fixed plant name. Use the established term 'амарант хвостатый' or 'щирица хвостатая'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb or emotional descriptor (e.g., 'She was love-lies-bleeding' is incorrect).
- Incorrect hyphenation: 'love lies bleeding' without hyphens is the verbal phrase, not the plant name.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'love-lies-bleeding' primarily?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a specific species within the Amaranthus genus, known as Amaranthus caudatus.
While its seeds are edible (like other amaranths) and nutritious, it is primarily grown as an ornamental plant.
The name is descriptive, referring to the plant's long, drooping, blood-red flower clusters that resemble dripping blood.
Yes, it's an annual that is relatively easy to grow from seed in well-drained soil and full sun.