Seem like a good idea at the time

Despite the scandal, she managed to come out smelling like a rose.

Despite the challenges, she managed to come up smelling like a rose.

It's like turkeys voting for an early Christmas.

She went over like a lead balloon at the talent show.

The joke goes over like a lead balloon.

Her joke about politics is going over like a lead balloon.

The joke I told at the party last night has gone over like a lead balloon.

His joke about politics went over like a lead balloon.

She looks like something the cat's dragged in.