41 Idioms for Marriage
Marriage is a beautiful journey, but sometimes regular words aren’t enough to describe its ups and downs. That’s where idioms come in. Idioms are colorful phrases that help us express the deep feelings and experiences of married life. They make our conversations richer and help others understand the magic and challenges of being married.
This article will explore idioms about marriage. These phrases can help you talk about love, commitment, and partnership in meaningful ways. You’ll also find a short activity to practice using these idioms in real situations.
Idioms for Marriage
1. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married.
Sentence Example: Sarah and Tom decided to tie the knot after dating for five years. / My cousin is planning to tie the knot next summer in Hawaii.
Other Ways to Say: Get hitched / Take the plunge
2. Get hitched
Meaning: To get married in a casual way.
Sentence Example: My brother got hitched to his college sweetheart last weekend. / They got hitched in a small ceremony with just family.
Other Ways to Say: Tie the knot / Walk down the aisle
3. Walk down the aisle
Meaning: To get married, especially referring to the wedding ceremony.
Sentence Example: She dreamed of walking down the aisle in her grandmother’s dress. / After three years together, they’re finally ready to walk down the aisle.
Other Ways to Say: Get married / Say “I do”
4. Better half
Meaning: Your spouse or partner.
Sentence Example: I need to check with my better half before making dinner plans. / His better half always knows how to make him laugh.
Other Ways to Say: Other half / Life partner
5. Match made in heaven
Meaning: Two people who are perfect for each other.
Sentence Example: Lisa and Mike are a match made in heaven they both love hiking and cooking. / Everyone says we’re a match made in heaven.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect pair / Meant to be
6. Old ball and chain
Meaning: A joking way to refer to your spouse.
Sentence Example: I’d love to go fishing, but the old ball and chain wants to visit her mother. / He calls me his old ball and chain, but he says it with love.
Other Ways to Say: The missus / The wife
7. Lovebirds
Meaning: A couple who are very much in love.
Sentence Example: Look at those lovebirds holding hands on their morning walk. / The newlywed lovebirds can’t stop smiling.
Other Ways to Say: Love-struck couple / Sweethearts
8. Settle down
Meaning: To get married and start a stable life.
Sentence Example: After traveling the world, Jake is ready to settle down with his girlfriend. / My parents want me to settle down and give them grandchildren.
Other Ways to Say: Put down roots / Start a family
9. Pop the question
Meaning: To propose marriage.
Sentence Example: He’s been planning to pop the question during their anniversary dinner. / She’s been dropping hints, hoping he’ll pop the question soon.
Other Ways to Say: Propose / Ask for her hand
10. Take the plunge
Meaning: To decide to get married.
Sentence Example: After living together for two years, they decided to take the plunge. / Taking the plunge was scary, but it was the best decision we ever made.
Other Ways to Say: Tie the knot / Make it official
11. Made for each other
Meaning: Two people who are perfectly suited.
Sentence Example: They share the same interests and values they’re made for each other. / Anyone can see that those two were made for each other.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect match / Soul mates
12. Through thick and thin
Meaning: To stay together during good times and bad.
Sentence Example: They’ve been through thick and thin together for thirty years. / A good marriage means sticking together through thick and thin.
Other Ways to Say: In good times and bad / For better or worse
13. Apple of my eye
Meaning: The person you love most.
Sentence Example: My wife has been the apple of my eye since we were teenagers. / She calls her husband the apple of her eye.
Other Ways to Say: Light of my life / My everything
14. Head over heels
Meaning: Completely in love.
Sentence Example: He fell head over heels for her the moment they met. / They’re still head over heels after twenty years of marriage.
Other Ways to Say: Madly in love / Crazy about
15. Two peas in a pod
Meaning: Two people who are very similar and get along well.
Sentence Example: My parents are like two peas in a pod they finish each other’s sentences. / Those newlyweds are two peas in a pod.
Other Ways to Say: Birds of a feather / Cut from the same cloth
16. The honeymoon is over
Meaning: The easy, romantic period of marriage has ended.
Sentence Example: After their first big fight, they realized the honeymoon was over. / When bills started piling up, we knew the honeymoon was over.
Other Ways to Say: Back to reality / The magic is gone
17. Wear the pants
Meaning: To be the one who makes decisions in the relationship.
Sentence Example: Everyone knows that Mom wears the pants in our family. / She might look sweet, but she definitely wears the pants at home.
Other Ways to Say: Call the shots / Be in charge
18. Joined at the hip
Meaning: A couple who spend all their time together.
Sentence Example: Since they got married, they’ve been joined at the hip. / Those two are joined at the hip you never see one without the other.
Other Ways to Say: Inseparable / Always together
19. Growing old together
Meaning: Planning to stay married for life.
Sentence Example: They dream of growing old together on their front porch. / The secret to growing old together is never losing your sense of humor.
Other Ways to Say: Till death do us part / Forever and always
20. Puppy love
Meaning: Young, innocent love that might not last.
Sentence Example: Everyone thought it was just puppy love, but they’re still married fifty years later. / Their parents called it puppy love, but they knew it was real.
Other Ways to Say: Young love / First love
21. Steal someone’s heart
Meaning: To make someone fall in love with you.
Sentence Example: He stole her heart with his kindness and sense of humor. / She stole my heart the day we met in college.
Other Ways to Say: Win someone over / Capture someone’s heart
22. Whirlwind romance
Meaning: A love story that happens very quickly.
Sentence Example: They had a whirlwind romance and got married after just three months. / Their whirlwind romance surprised everyone who knew them.
Other Ways to Say: Love at first sight / Fast love
23. Love at first sight
Meaning: Falling in love immediately when you first meet.
Sentence Example: My grandparents always said it was love at first sight when they met. / Some people don’t believe in love at first sight, but we’re proof it exists.
Other Ways to Say: Instant attraction / Meant to be
24. Birds of a feather flock together
Meaning: People with similar interests make good couples.
Sentence Example: They both love books and quiet evenings birds of a feather flock together. / We knew they’d be perfect together birds of a feather flock together.
Other Ways to Say: Like attracts like / Similar souls
25. Opposites attract
Meaning: People with different personalities can make a good match.
Sentence Example: He’s quiet and she’s outgoing, but opposites attract. / They prove that opposites attract he loves sports, she loves art.
Other Ways to Say: Different but compatible / Balance each other
26. Sealed with a kiss
Meaning: Made official with love and affection.
Sentence Example: They signed the marriage papers and sealed it with a kiss. / Their promise to love each other was sealed with a kiss.
Other Ways to Say: Made with love / Blessed with affection
27. Till death do us part
Meaning: A promise to stay married for life.
Sentence Example: They meant every word when they said “till death do us part.” / True love means till death do us part.
Other Ways to Say: Forever and always / For life
28. Happy wife, happy life
Meaning: If your wife is happy, your marriage will be good.
Sentence Example: My dad always said “happy wife, happy life” and he was right. / He follows the rule happy wife, happy life.
Other Ways to Say: Keep your spouse happy / Peace at home
29. The old married couple
Meaning: A couple who have been married for a long time.
Sentence Example: Look at the old married couple still holding hands after forty years. / We’re turning into the old married couple who stays home on weekends.
Other Ways to Say: Long-time partners / Seasoned couple
30. Newlyweds
Meaning: People who just got married.
Sentence Example: The newlyweds are still in the honeymoon phase of their marriage. / Everyone can tell they’re newlyweds by how they look at each other.
Other Ways to Say: Just married / Fresh couple
31. Settle for less
Meaning: To marry someone who isn’t your perfect match.
Sentence Example: Don’t settle for less wait for someone who truly makes you happy. / She refused to settle for less and waited for the right person.
Other Ways to Say: Lower your standards / Accept second best
32. The one that got away
Meaning: Someone you loved but didn’t marry.
Sentence Example: He sometimes wonders about the one that got away from college. / Everyone has a story about the one that got away.
Other Ways to Say: Lost love / What could have been
33. Sweep someone off their feet
Meaning: To make someone fall in love quickly.
Sentence Example: He swept her off her feet with surprise dates and thoughtful gifts. / She swept him off his feet with her laugh and kindness.
Other Ways to Say: Win someone over / Charm completely
34. Soul mates
Meaning: Two people who are meant to be together.
Sentence Example: They knew they were soul mates from their first conversation. / Finding your soul mate is rare and beautiful.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect match / Meant to be
35. For better or for worse
Meaning: To stay together through all of life’s challenges.
Sentence Example: Marriage means staying together for better or for worse. / They’ve kept their promise for better or for worse through every challenge.
Other Ways to Say: Through thick and thin / In good times and bad
36. Love is blind
Meaning: When you’re in love, you don’t see the person’s flaws.
Sentence Example: Everyone warned her about his bad habits, but love is blind. / They say love is blind, and sometimes that’s a good thing.
Other Ways to Say: Can’t see faults / Blinded by love
37. Wear rose-colored glasses
Meaning: To see only the good things about your partner.
Sentence Example: She wears rose-colored glasses when it comes to her husband. / New couples often wear rose-colored glasses about each other.
Other Ways to Say: See through love / Only see the good
38. On the rocks
Meaning: A marriage that is having serious problems.
Sentence Example: Their marriage has been on the rocks since they started fighting about money. / When trust is broken, a marriage can end up on the rocks.
Other Ways to Say: In trouble / Falling apart
39. Kiss and make up
Meaning: To forgive each other after a fight.
Sentence Example: They always kiss and make up after their silly arguments. / The secret to marriage is learning to kiss and make up.
Other Ways to Say: Forgive and forget / Make peace
40. Work things out
Meaning: To solve problems in your marriage.
Sentence Example: They went to counseling to work things out. / Good couples always find a way to work things out.
Other Ways to Say: Solve problems / Find solutions
41. Stand by your man/woman
Meaning: To support your spouse no matter what.
Sentence Example: She promised to stand by her man through his career change. / True love means you stand by your woman in tough times.
Other Ways to Say: Support your partner / Stay loyal
Exercise to Practice
- My sister is finally ready to _______ after dating her boyfriend for four years.
- Everyone says my parents are a _______ because they’re so perfect together.
- He’s planning to _______ during their vacation to Paris.
- My grandparents have been together _______ for sixty years.
- She fell _______ the moment she saw him smile.
- They decided to _______ and have a small wedding this fall.
- My _______ always knows how to cheer me up when I’m sad.
- The couple next door are real _______ always holding hands and laughing.
- After their big fight, they decided to _______ and start fresh.
- They’ve been _______ since college you never see one without the other.
- He _______ with his romantic proposal under the stars.
- Their friends knew they were _______ from the very beginning.
- Marriage means staying together _______ no matter what life brings.
- She refuses to _______ and is waiting for true love.
- They’re proof that _______ can last a lifetime.
Answer Key
- tie the knot
- match made in heaven
- pop the question
- through thick and thin
- head over heels
- take the plunge
- better half
- lovebirds
- kiss and make up
- joined at the hip
- swept her off her feet
- soul mates
- for better or for worse
- settle for less
- love at first sight
Conclusion
Using idioms about marriage makes our conversations more colorful and meaningful. They help us express the deep feelings and experiences that come with sharing your life with someone special. Whether you’re talking about new love or celebrating decades together, these phrases add warmth to your words.
Try using a few of these idioms when you talk about relationships. A simple “match made in heaven” or “through thick and thin” can help others understand the beauty of true partnership. Marriage is full of wonderful moments, and these idioms help us share that joy with others.
