In this article, we’ll explore idioms related to marriage. Idioms are phrases that have a meaning different from the individual words. They add color to our language. Marriage is a special bond between two people. People use idioms to describe different aspects of marriage. Understanding these idioms helps us express ourselves better. Let’s start marriage idioms and see how they improve our language!
Idioms for marriage
1. Tie the knot
Meaning: Get married
In a Sentence: “Sarah and John are finally tying the knot after years of dating.”
Other Ways to Say: Walk down the aisle, say “I do”
2. Jump the broom
Meaning: Get married, especially informally
In a Sentence: “In some cultures, couples jump the broom as a symbol of their commitment.”
Other Ways to Say: Be married.
3. Head over heels
Meaning: Deeply in love
In a Sentence: “Ever since they met, they’ve been head over heels for each other.”
Other Ways to Say: Crazy about each other, Smitten
4. Lovebirds
Meaning: A couple deeply in love with each other
In a Sentence: “Look at those two lovebirds holding hands in the park.”
Other Ways to Say: Darlings
5. Happily ever after
Meaning: Forever happy in marriage
In a Sentence: “They lived happily ever after in their small cottage by the lake.”
Other Ways to Say: Wedded bliss, Fairy tale ending
6. Ball and chain
Meaning: A spouse that restricts one’s freedom
In a Sentence: “Some people joke that marriage is like having a ball and chain.”
Other Ways to Say: Leg irons
7. The better half
Meaning: One’s spouse, especially when regarded as a partner in a relationship
In a Sentence: “My wife is my better half; I couldn’t imagine life without her.”
Other Ways to Say: Helpmate.
8. Popping the question
Meaning: Propose marriage
In a Sentence: “He’s nervous about popping the question to his girlfriend.”
Other Ways to Say: Proposing, Getting down on one knee
9. Tying the knot
Meaning: Getting married
In a Sentence: “They’re tying the knot in a beautiful beach ceremony.”
Other Ways to Say: Getting hitched, exchanging vows
10. Settle down
Meaning: To start a stable and settled life
In a Sentence: “After years of traveling, they decided to settle down and start a family.”
Other Ways to Say: Calm down.
11. Walk down the aisle
Meaning: Getting married, specifically referring to the wedding ceremony
In a Sentence: “The bride looked radiant as she walked down the aisle.”
Other Ways to Say: Join in matrimony
12. Starter marriage
Meaning: A short-lived first marriage, often followed by a second marriage
In a Sentence: “Their starter marriage ended amicably, and they both moved on.”
Other Ways to Say: Rehearsal marriage
13. Shotgun wedding
Meaning: A wedding that happens quickly due to an unexpected pregnancy
In a Sentence: “They had a shotgun wedding after discovering she was pregnant.”
Other Ways to Say: Quickie wedding, Rushed marriage
14. Wedded bliss
Meaning: Perfect happiness in marriage
In a Sentence: “Despite their ups and downs, they’ve found wedded bliss.”
Other Ways to Say: Marital bliss, Marital happiness
15. Old ball and chain
Meaning: One’s spouse, sometimes with a sense of affection or complaint
In a Sentence: “He jokingly refers to his wife as his old ball and chain.”
Other Ways to Say: Cross to bear
16. For better or for worse
Meaning: A commitment to stay together through good and bad times
In a Sentence: “They vowed to stay together for better or for worse.”
Other Ways to Say: Through thick and thin, In sickness and in health
17. Take the plunge
Meaning: To take a risk, especially in marriage
In a Sentence: “They decided to take the plunge and move in together.”
Other Ways to Say: Commit oneself
18. On cloud nine
Meaning: Extremely happy
In a Sentence: “After getting engaged, she was on cloud nine for weeks.”
Other Ways to Say: Over the moon, In seventh heaven
19. Love is blind
Meaning: Love does not see flaws or imperfections
In a Sentence: “Even though he’s not perfect, she still loves him. Love is blind.”
Other Ways to Say: Immature love.
20. Going steady
Meaning: Dating exclusively
In a Sentence: “They’ve been going steady since high school.”
Other Ways to Say: Keeping company.
21. Two peas in a pod
Meaning: Two very similar people
In a Sentence: “They’re like two peas in a pod; they do everything together.”
Other Ways to Say: Like birds of a feather.
22. To have and to hold
Meaning: To promise to love and cherish one another
In a Sentence: “They promised to have and to hold each other until the end of time.”
Other Ways to Say: Intimacy
23. Love conquers all
Meaning: Love can overcome any obstacle
In a Sentence: “Despite facing challenges, their love conquers all.”
Other Ways to Say: Love is a power.
24. Love at First Sight
Meaning: Falling in love immediately upon meeting
In a Sentence: “It was love at first sight when they met in college.”
Other Ways to Say: Immediate love.
25. Made for each other
Meaning: Perfectly suited for each other
In a Sentence: “They’re made for each other; it’s like they were destined to meet.”
Other Ways to Say: Made to be together
26. To put a ring on it
Meaning: To propose marriage
In a Sentence: “He’s planning to put a ring on it and propose to his girlfriend.”
Other Ways to Say: Get Engaged.
27. Swept off one’s feet
Meaning: Overwhelmed with romantic feelings
In a Sentence: “She was swept off her feet by the charming stranger.”
Other Ways to Say: Be transported
28. Happily married
Meaning: Happily united in marriage
In a Sentence: “They’ve been happily married for twenty years.”
Other Ways to Say: Joyfully married
29. Till death do us part
Meaning: Vowing to remain together until death
In a Sentence: “They vowed to stay together till death do them part.”
Other Ways to Say: For as long as we continue to love each other.
30. Love nest
Meaning: A comfortable and cozy home shared by a couple
In a Sentence: “Their love nest is a cozy apartment in the city.”
Other Ways to Say: Abode of love.
31. Pop the question
Meaning: Proposing marriage
In a Sentence: “He’s nervous about popping the question to his girlfriend.”
Other Ways to Say: Proposing, Getting down on one knee
32. The honeymoon phase
Meaning: The early period of a relationship is characterized by intense happiness and romance
In a Sentence: “They’re still in the honeymoon phase; everything feels perfect.”
Other Ways to Say: Happy days.
33. Living in sin
Meaning: Cohabitating without being married
In a Sentence: “They decided to live in sin rather than rush into marriage.”
Other Ways to Say: Misbehave.
34. Walking on air
Meaning: Feeling extremely happy or joyful
In a Sentence: “Winning the championship had him walking on air for days.”
Other Ways to Say: Enthusiastic.
35. Love triangle
Meaning: A situation in which three people are involved in romantic relationships with each other
In a Sentence: “Their love triangle led to a lot of drama and heartache.”
Other Ways to Say: Romance triangle.
Exercise to Practice
- Sarah and John are finally ___________ after years of dating.
- In some cultures, couples _________ as a symbol of their commitment.
- Ever since they met, they’ve been ____________ for each other.
- Look at those two ___________ holding hands in the park.
- They lived ____________ in their small cottage by the lake.
- Some people joke that marriage is like having a ___________.
- My wife is my ____________; I couldn’t imagine life without her.
- He’s nervous about ___________ to his girlfriend.
- They’re ___________ in a beautiful beach ceremony.
- After years of traveling, they decided to ___________ and start a family.
- The bride looked radiant as she __________ down the aisle.
- Their ____________ ended amicably, and they both moved on.
Answers:
- Tying the knot
- Jump the broom
- Head over heels
- Lovebirds
- Happily ever after
- Ball and chain
- Better half
- Popping the question
- Walking down the aisle
- Settle down
- Walked
- Starter marriage
Conclusion
Understanding idioms related to marriage can add depth and color to our conversations about relationships. These idioms reflect the joys, challenges, and commitments that come with marriage. By learning and using these expressions, we can better express our feelings and experiences in a relatable and engaging way.
So, whether it’s tying the knot, walking down the aisle, or living happily ever after, marriage idioms play a meaningful role in our language and our lives.