come out smelling like a rose
To maintain a favorable reputation despite involvement in a scandalous or otherwise negative situation. By reporting his colleagues as soon as he learned of their dishonest business practices, the CEO came out smelling like a rose.
come out smelling like a rose
Fig. to succeed; to do better than anyone else in some situation. Everyone else in the firm lost money in the real estate deal, but Bob came out smelling like a rose. If I can just finish my research paper on time, I'll come out smelling like a rose by the end of the school year.