People often use fun phrases to talk about feelings. When someone likes another person, they might not say it directly. Instead, they use idioms. Idioms are phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. For example, “head over heels” doesn’t mean someone is standing on their head. It means they really like someone. These sayings make our language more colorful and fun to use.
In this article, we will look at different idioms about attraction. These are the kinds of sayings people use when they talk about liking or loving someone. You might hear them in movies, books, or even on the playground. Learning these idioms can help you understand what others mean and help you express your own feelings in a creative way. Let’s explore some of these expressions and what they really mean.
Idioms About Attraction
1. Head over heels
Meaning: Deeply in love
Example Sentence:
• Jake is head over heels for Emily.
• She fell head over heels after their first date.
Other ways to say: Crazy about, really into
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of tumbling upside down with excitement.
Usage: When someone is deeply in love.
2. Love at first sight
Meaning: Falling in love the moment you see someone
Example Sentence:
• It was love at first sight when they met in the cafeteria.
• She felt love at first sight the moment he walked into class.
Other ways to say: Instant crush, sudden love
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase has been around for hundreds of years and is popular in stories and movies.
Usage: When people fall for someone immediately.
3. Crush on someone
Meaning: A strong feeling of liking someone
Example Sentence:
• Tommy has a crush on the new girl in class.
• I had a crush on my camp counselor.
Other ways to say: Like someone, fancy someone
Fun Fact/Origin: “Crush” has been used like this since the early 1900s.
Usage: When you like someone a lot but may not tell them.
4. Puppy love
Meaning: A young or simple form of love
Example Sentence:
• Their puppy love started in the second grade.
• It was just puppy love, but it felt real to them.
Other ways to say: Young love, early feelings
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom compares early love to playful puppies.
Usage: Used to describe love between young people.
5. Catch someone’s eye
Meaning: To get someone’s attention
Example Sentence:
• She caught his eye at the school dance.
• That bright shirt really caught my eye.
Other ways to say: Attract attention, stand out
Fun Fact/Origin: It means your eyes noticed someone before your brain thought about it.
Usage: Used when someone notices someone attractive.
6. Make your heart skip a beat
Meaning: To feel sudden excitement or nervousness
Example Sentence:
• Her smile made his heart skip a beat.
• My heart skipped a beat when he said hi.
Other ways to say: Feel thrilled, get excited
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s based on how emotions can affect your heartbeat.
Usage: When someone feels excited because of someone they like.
7. Fall for someone
Meaning: To start liking or loving someone
Example Sentence:
• He’s starting to fall for her.
• I didn’t mean to fall for my best friend.
Other ways to say: Start liking, get attached
Fun Fact/Origin: The word “fall” shows how quickly love can happen.
Usage: Used when someone begins to like another person.
8. Have eyes for someone
Meaning: To only be interested in one person
Example Sentence:
• She only has eyes for Max.
• Even at the party, he had eyes only for her.
Other ways to say: Focused on someone, only likes them
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom shows how strong attraction can block out everyone else.
Usage: When someone is only interested in one person.
9. Sparks fly
Meaning: Strong emotions, often love or excitement
Example Sentence:
• Sparks flew the first time they met.
• You could see the sparks fly between them.
Other ways to say: Instant chemistry, strong connection
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the spark of electricity or fire—used to show instant attraction.
Usage: Used when two people have a strong connection right away.
10. Love-struck
Meaning: Feeling stunned or overwhelmed by love
Example Sentence:
• He looked love-struck when she walked in.
• Her love-struck face said it all.
Other ways to say: In a daze, swept away
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of being hit by love like an arrow.
Usage: When someone acts dreamy or dazed because they’re in love.
11. Hit it off
Meaning: To like each other right away
Example Sentence:
• They hit it off at the science fair.
• We hit it off the first time we talked.
Other ways to say: Got along well, clicked instantly
Fun Fact/Origin: “Hit” in this case means to connect quickly.
Usage: Used when two people become friends or like each other immediately.
12. Butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous or excited
Example Sentence:
• I get butterflies when I see her.
• He had butterflies before asking her to the dance.
Other ways to say: Jittery, excited inside
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the fluttery feeling you get when nervous or excited.
Usage: Describes nervousness often related to liking someone.
13. Steal someone’s heart
Meaning: Make someone fall in love
Example Sentence:
• She stole his heart with her kind smile.
• That puppy stole everyone’s heart.
Other ways to say: Win someone over, charm someone
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that someone takes your heart without asking.
Usage: When someone becomes lovable to another person.
14. Be sweet on someone
Meaning: To like someone a lot
Example Sentence:
• He’s sweet on the girl next door.
• I think you’re sweet on her!
Other ways to say: Have a crush, admire
Fun Fact/Origin: Sweet things are nice—just like this feeling.
Usage: When someone likes another person in a gentle way.
15. Be an item
Meaning: Two people are dating
Example Sentence:
• Are Sam and Jenna an item now?
• They became an item last summer.
Other ways to say: A couple, going out
Fun Fact/Origin: An “item” means a pair, like in the news.
Usage: Used when people are officially together.
16. Be drawn to someone
Meaning: To feel attracted to someone
Example Sentence:
• He’s always been drawn to creative people.
• She was drawn to his kindness.
Other ways to say: Feel pulled to, feel connected
Fun Fact/Origin: “Drawn” means pulled, like a magnet.
Usage: Used when someone feels a strong interest in another person.
17. Light up when someone enters
Meaning: To look happy because of someone
Example Sentence:
• Her face lights up when he walks in.
• He lit up as soon as he saw her.
Other ways to say: Smile big, glow with happiness
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows how someone can brighten your day.
Usage: Describes joy when seeing someone special.
18. Be under someone’s spell
Meaning: Deeply charmed or attracted
Example Sentence:
• He’s under her spell for sure.
• She was under his spell from the first hello.
Other ways to say: Captivated by, taken with
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from fairy tales and magic.
Usage: When someone is so attracted they can’t think clearly.
19. Have a soft spot for someone
Meaning: To care about someone a lot
Example Sentence:
• I’ve always had a soft spot for Chris.
• Grandma has a soft spot for her dog.
Other ways to say: Care deeply, really like
Fun Fact/Origin: A “soft spot” means you feel gentle and kind inside.
Usage: Describes affection for someone or something.
20. Warm up to someone
Meaning: Slowly start to like someone
Example Sentence:
• I didn’t like him at first, but I warmed up to him.
• She’s warming up to the new student.
Other ways to say: Begin to like, feel comfortable with
Fun Fact/Origin: Like warming cold hands, your feelings change slowly.
Usage: Used when someone begins to like another person.
21. Be taken with someone
Meaning: To be very impressed or interested
Example Sentence:
• She’s taken with the new art teacher.
• He was taken with her smile.
Other ways to say: Admire, be into
Fun Fact/Origin: “Taken” here means emotionally moved.
Usage: When someone makes a strong impression.
22. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married
Example Sentence:
• They tied the knot last summer.
• Are they tying the knot this year?
Other ways to say: Get married, say “I do”
Fun Fact/Origin: From an old custom of tying hands with a ribbon at weddings.
Usage: When two people marry.
23. Flirt with someone
Meaning: To show playful interest in someone
Example Sentence:
• He keeps flirting with Emily.
• She flirted with the new kid during lunch.
Other ways to say: Tease kindly, show interest
Fun Fact/Origin: “Flirt” used to mean quick, playful movement.
Usage: When someone is showing they like another person.
24. Be lovesick
Meaning: Feeling sad or distracted because of love
Example Sentence:
• He’s so lovesick, he can’t focus in class.
• She felt lovesick after the breakup.
Other ways to say: Sad from love, mopey
Fun Fact/Origin: Used for hundreds of years to describe sadness from love.
Usage: When someone feels bad because of love.
25. Dreamboat
Meaning: A very attractive person
Example Sentence:
• Everyone thinks the new teacher is a dreamboat.
• He looks like a movie dreamboat.
Other ways to say: Very good-looking, handsome
Fun Fact/Origin: Used a lot in the 1950s to describe someone super cute.
Usage: Mostly used to describe someone very attractive.
26. Carry a torch for someone
Meaning: To still love someone secretly
Example Sentence:
• He’s carried a torch for her for years.
• She still carries a torch for her old crush.
Other ways to say: Still likes someone, can’t forget
Fun Fact/Origin: A torch is a symbol of burning love.
Usage: When someone secretly still has feelings.
27. Be gaga over someone
Meaning: Acting silly or excited because of love
Example Sentence:
• She’s gaga over that boy band.
• He’s gaga over his girlfriend.
Other ways to say: Goofy in love, head over heels
Fun Fact/Origin: “Gaga” means acting foolish or dizzy.
Usage: When someone acts silly because of attraction.
28. Make eyes at someone
Meaning: To look at someone in a romantic way
Example Sentence:
• She kept making eyes at him across the room.
• He made eyes at his crush during class.
Other ways to say: Give flirty looks, stare lovingly
Fun Fact/Origin: A look can say a lot without words.
Usage: Used when someone gives flirty looks.
29. Love is in the air
Meaning: Romance is happening around
Example Sentence:
• At prom, love was in the air.
• During Valentine’s week, love is in the air.
Other ways to say: Everyone’s feeling romantic
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s a popular saying during romantic times.
Usage: Used when many people are falling in love or dating.
30. Fall headfirst
Meaning: To fall in love suddenly and fully
Example Sentence:
• She fell headfirst for her new friend.
• He fell headfirst after one date.
Other ways to say: Fall deeply, rush into love
Fun Fact/Origin: Falling headfirst shows no fear or pause.
Usage: Describes fast, strong feelings of love.
31. Feel a spark
Meaning: Feel sudden attraction
Example Sentence:
• They felt a spark on their first date.
• She said there was a spark when they talked.
Other ways to say: Feel a connection, click
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of a spark starting a fire.
Usage: When people instantly connect.
32. Go weak in the knees
Meaning: To feel so attracted that you feel shaky
Example Sentence:
• She went weak in the knees when he smiled.
• That hug made him weak in the knees.
Other ways to say: Feel dizzy, overwhelmed
Fun Fact/Origin: Emotions can make your body feel wobbly.
Usage: When someone is very attracted.
33. Be smitten
Meaning: To be strongly in love
Example Sentence:
• He’s smitten with his new girlfriend.
• She’s smitten and always smiling.
Other ways to say: In love, lovestruck
Fun Fact/Origin: “Smitten” means struck, like by love.
Usage: Used when someone is clearly in love.
Quiz: Idioms About Attraction
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does it mean if someone is “head over heels”?
A) They are upside down
B) They are very happy
C) They are deeply in love
2. If two people “hit it off,” what happened?
A) They had an argument
B) They liked each other right away
C) They stopped talking
3. What does “butterflies in your stomach” mean?
A) You ate too much
B) You feel nervous or excited
C) You are feeling sick
4. When someone “steals your heart,” what does that mean?
A) They took your lunch
B) They made you fall in love
C) They ran very fast
5. What does it mean to “have a crush on someone”?
A) You want to play a game with them
B) You like them in a romantic way
C) You want to beat them at a race
6. If someone is “love-struck,” how do they feel?
A) Sad and lonely
B) Angry and upset
C) Dazed and dreamy because they like someone
7. What does it mean to “carry a torch for someone”?
A) You are giving someone a flashlight
B) You still love someone secretly
C) You are running in a race
8. If someone is “gaga over someone,” how are they acting?
A) Very excited and silly
B) Very serious and quiet
C) Very confused and angry
9. What does it mean when “love is in the air”?
A) There is music playing
B) People are falling in love
C) Birds are flying nearby
10. If someone “makes your heart skip a beat,” what do they do?
A) They surprise you in a sweet way
B) They scare you
C) They ignore you
Answer Key
- C) They are deeply in love
- B) They liked each other right away
- B) You feel nervous or excited
- B) They made you fall in love
- B) You like them in a romantic way
- C) Dazed and dreamy because they like someone
- B) You still love someone secretly
- A) Very excited and silly
- B) People are falling in love
- A) They surprise you in a sweet way
Wrapping Up
Idioms about attraction help us talk about feelings in fun and simple ways. When people like each other, they might say things like “falling head over heels” or “having a crush.” These sayings show us how strong and silly love can feel sometimes. They also help us describe those feelings without saying things directly.
If you want to understand love idioms better, keep practicing. Try using them in your own sentences when talking with friends or reading stories. That way, they will start to feel natural, and you’ll be able to enjoy conversations even more.
