Love is a feeling that many people know. It can make us happy, excited, or even nervous. Sometimes, people use special phrases to talk about love. These are called idioms. They are fun and colorful ways to describe how we feel. Idioms help us say a lot in just a few words. They are often used in stories, movies, and songs.
In this article, we will explore different idioms about love. These idioms show how people feel when they like someone, fall in love, or even get heartbroken. You might hear them at school, in books, or from friends. Learning these phrases will help you understand and talk about love in a more interesting way. Let’s take a look at some of the most common idioms about love and what they mean.
Idioms About Love
1. Head over heels
Meaning: To be deeply in love
Example Sentence:
• Jake is head over heels for his new girlfriend.
• Sarah is head over heels about her crush at school.
Other ways to say: Madly in love, crazy about someone
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom used to be “heels over head” and means being flipped or dizzy, like how love can feel.
Usage: When someone falls in love fast and strongly
2. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married
Example Sentence:
• My cousin is going to tie the knot this summer.
• They tied the knot at the beach last weekend.
Other ways to say: Get married, say “I do”
Fun Fact/Origin: It comes from an old tradition where a couple’s hands were tied together to show unity.
Usage: Used when people talk about weddings or marriage
3. Puppy love
Meaning: A young or early love that feels strong but may not last
Example Sentence:
• Joey had puppy love for his classmate in second grade.
• Their puppy love faded after a few weeks.
Other ways to say: First crush, young love
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s called “puppy love” because it feels big but is not very serious—like a puppy being excited about everything
Usage: Used for kids or teens who like someone
4. Lovebirds
Meaning: Two people who are always together and seem in love
Example Sentence:
• Amy and Noah are lovebirds at school.
• The lovebirds sat together at lunch, smiling and talking.
Other ways to say: Romantic couple, sweethearts
Fun Fact/Origin: It comes from birds that sit close together, like parrots or doves
Usage: Used when talking about couples who are always together
5. Have a crush on someone
Meaning: To secretly like someone in a romantic way
Example Sentence:
• I think Ben has a crush on Mia.
• She has a crush on the new student in class.
Other ways to say: Like someone, be sweet on someone
Fun Fact/Origin: “Crush” was first used in American slang in the late 1800s
Usage: Used when someone likes another person, but maybe hasn’t told them
6. Fall for someone
Meaning: To start liking someone romantically
Example Sentence:
• Lucas fell for Emma in the first week of school.
• I think she’s falling for him.
Other ways to say: Start liking, begin to love
Fun Fact/Origin: “Fall” is used to show how sudden and surprising love can be
Usage: When someone starts to like another person
7. Love at first sight
Meaning: To fall in love the first time you see someone
Example Sentence:
• My grandparents say it was love at first sight.
• He believed in love at first sight after meeting her.
Other ways to say: Instant love, sudden crush
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase has been used in stories for hundreds of years
Usage: When someone feels love right away
8. The apple of someone’s eye
Meaning: A person who is loved and cherished very much
Example Sentence:
• Lily is the apple of her dad’s eye.
• His little sister is the apple of his eye.
Other ways to say: Favorite person, special one
Fun Fact/Origin: Long ago, people believed the pupil of the eye was like an apple and very precious
Usage: Used to show someone is very loved
9. Pop the question
Meaning: To ask someone to marry you
Example Sentence:
• He popped the question during dinner.
• She said yes when he popped the question!
Other ways to say: Propose, ask to get married
Fun Fact/Origin: “Pop” means to suddenly ask, like a surprise
Usage: When someone asks for marriage
10. Walk down the aisle
Meaning: To get married
Example Sentence:
• They’re walking down the aisle next month.
• She always dreamed of walking down the aisle.
Other ways to say: Get married, have a wedding
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the path people walk during a wedding
Usage: Talking about getting married
11. Match made in heaven
Meaning: A couple that fits perfectly together
Example Sentence:
• Everyone thinks they’re a match made in heaven.
• Their friendship turned into a match made in heaven.
Other ways to say: Perfect couple, great pair
Fun Fact/Origin: People used to believe good matches were picked by the sky
Usage: Used when couples get along very well
12. Carry a torch for someone
Meaning: To secretly still love someone
Example Sentence:
• He still carries a torch for his old girlfriend.
• She carried a torch for him even after he moved away.
Other ways to say: Still love, have strong feelings
Fun Fact/Origin: A burning torch stands for keeping love alive
Usage: When someone loves someone from the past
13. Heart skips a beat
Meaning: To feel sudden excitement or love
Example Sentence:
• His heart skipped a beat when she smiled.
• My heart skipped a beat when I saw him.
Other ways to say: Feel excited, get butterflies
Fun Fact/Origin: The body can actually react this way to feelings
Usage: When love makes someone feel thrilled
14. Crazy about someone
Meaning: To really like or love someone a lot
Example Sentence:
• She’s crazy about her boyfriend.
• He’s crazy about his crush in math class.
Other ways to say: Love a lot, head over heels
Fun Fact/Origin: “Crazy” here means very strong feelings
Usage: When someone really likes another person
15. Break someone’s heart
Meaning: To make someone feel very sad by ending a relationship
Example Sentence:
• He broke her heart when he moved away.
• It broke my heart when she said goodbye.
Other ways to say: Hurt deeply, leave someone sad
Fun Fact/Origin: “Heart” is used to show feelings and pain
Usage: Used when someone is hurt in love
16. Love-hate relationship
Meaning: When someone both likes and dislikes a person
Example Sentence:
• They have a love-hate relationship with each other.
• I have a love-hate feeling about that show.
Other ways to say: Mixed feelings, like and dislike
Fun Fact/Origin: It shows how feelings can be strong both ways
Usage: For confusing or up-and-down relationships
17. Blind date
Meaning: A date with someone you haven’t met before
Example Sentence:
• I went on a blind date last weekend.
• Her aunt set her up on a blind date.
Other ways to say: Surprise date, mystery meeting
Fun Fact/Origin: “Blind” means not knowing who the person is
Usage: Used when people meet for dating without seeing each other first
18. Steal someone’s heart
Meaning: To make someone fall in love
Example Sentence:
• He stole her heart at the school dance.
• She stole my heart with her smile.
Other ways to say: Win someone over, charm someone
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from love feeling like something is taken
Usage: When someone makes another fall in love
19. Love is in the air
Meaning: Many people are feeling love at the same time
Example Sentence:
• During Valentine’s Day, love is in the air.
• Everyone at the party seemed happy—love was in the air.
Other ways to say: Everyone’s feeling romantic, people are falling in love
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom gives love a feeling of floating or flying
Usage: When love is felt around a group
20. Lovey-dovey
Meaning: Showing lots of sweet love in public
Example Sentence:
• The couple was all lovey-dovey at the game.
• They were acting lovey-dovey in the hallway.
Other ways to say: Sappy, super romantic
Fun Fact/Origin: Doves are birds that sit close together, like people in love
Usage: Used when people are very affectionate
21. Take someone’s breath away
Meaning: To make someone feel amazed, often because of love or beauty
Example Sentence:
• Her dress took his breath away.
• The way he smiled took her breath away.
Other ways to say: Make speechless, amaze someone
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from feeling so amazed that it’s hard to breathe
Usage: Used when someone is stunned by love or beauty
22. To have a soft spot for someone
Meaning: To feel kindly or lovingly toward someone
Example Sentence:
• I have a soft spot for my little brother.
• She has a soft spot for her best friend.
Other ways to say: Really like, care for
Fun Fact/Origin: “Soft spot” means weakness for someone special
Usage: When someone feels extra kind or loving
23. Catch someone’s eye
Meaning: To get someone’s attention in a romantic way
Example Sentence:
• He caught her eye at the school assembly.
• She caught his eye with her new haircut.
Other ways to say: Get noticed, attract someone
Fun Fact/Origin: “Catch” means to grab attention
Usage: When someone notices another person romantically
24. To be an item
Meaning: To be a couple
Example Sentence:
• Everyone knows they’re an item now.
• Are Olivia and Ryan an item?
Other ways to say: Be together, be a couple
Fun Fact/Origin: “Item” here means a pair or team
Usage: When two people are dating or in a relationship
25. To be smitten
Meaning: To be deeply in love or attracted to someone
Example Sentence:
• He was smitten with the new girl.
• She’s totally smitten with her classmate.
Other ways to say: Love-struck, have a crush
Fun Fact/Origin: “Smitten” comes from a word meaning “hit hard,” like strong feelings
Usage: Used when someone is very taken by love
26. Cupboard love
Meaning: Love shown only to get something in return
Example Sentence:
• That’s just cupboard love—he only hugs her when he wants candy.
• She shows cupboard love when she wants something.
Other ways to say: Fake affection, sweet-talking
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from pets showing love to get food
Usage: When someone acts loving but only for gain
27. Wear your heart on your sleeve
Meaning: To show your feelings openly
Example Sentence:
• He wears his heart on his sleeve, so everyone knows how he feels.
• She wears her heart on her sleeve when she talks about her crush.
Other ways to say: Be open, show feelings
Fun Fact/Origin: Knights used to tie a cloth showing their love on their arms
Usage: Used when someone shows love easily
28. To be sweet on someone
Meaning: To like someone a lot
Example Sentence:
• I think she’s sweet on the new boy in class.
• He’s always been sweet on his neighbor.
Other ways to say: Have a crush, like someone
Fun Fact/Origin: “Sweet” means soft, kind feelings
Usage: When someone likes another in a gentle way
29. To go steady
Meaning: To be in a regular, serious relationship
Example Sentence:
• They’ve been going steady since summer.
• Are you going steady with someone?
Other ways to say: Date seriously, be a couple
Fun Fact/Origin: Started in the 1950s as slang for regular dating
Usage: Used when a couple is serious
30. Only have eyes for
Meaning: To care about only one person
Example Sentence:
• He only has eyes for her.
• She only has eyes for her best friend.
Other ways to say: Focused on, deeply in love
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in songs and poems
Usage: When someone is totally focused on one person
31. Be lovesick
Meaning: To feel sad or sick because of love
Example Sentence:
• She felt lovesick when he moved away.
• He couldn’t eat because he was so lovesick.
Other ways to say: Sad from love, heartache
Fun Fact/Origin: Love was once thought to cause real sickness
Usage: When someone is sad from love problems
32. To be struck by Cupid’s arrow
Meaning: To fall in love suddenly
Example Sentence:
• They were struck by Cupid’s arrow during art class.
• He said he was hit by Cupid’s arrow when he met her.
Other ways to say: Fall fast, love at first sight
Fun Fact/Origin: Cupid is the Roman god of love who shoots arrows
Usage: When love happens fast and strong
33. Be the one
Meaning: The person you feel is perfect for you
Example Sentence:
• She says he’s the one for her.
• He knew she was the one after their second date.
Other ways to say: Soulmate, perfect match
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in books and movies about love
Usage: Used when someone feels they found their match
34. To be stuck on someone
Meaning: To really like or be attached to someone
Example Sentence:
• He’s really stuck on her.
• She’s stuck on her camp friend.
Other ways to say: Attached, have a crush
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of glue—hard to move on
Usage: When someone can’t stop liking another person
35. Get hitched
Meaning: To get married
Example Sentence:
• They’re getting hitched next fall.
• My uncle got hitched last year.
Other ways to say: Tie the knot, marry
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from hitching horses or wagons together
Usage: Used for weddings or marriage
36. To fall head over heels
Meaning: To fall deeply in love
Example Sentence:
• She fell head over heels for him in drama class.
• He’s head over heels again!
Other ways to say: In love, crazy about someone
Fun Fact/Origin: We often use this to show how fast and strong love hits
Usage: When love is sudden and strong
37. To court someone
Meaning: To try to win someone’s love, often before marriage
Example Sentence:
• He courted her with letters and gifts.
• They were courting for a year before marrying.
Other ways to say: Date seriously, woo someone
Fun Fact/Origin: Used more in the past than today
Usage: When people date to get married
38. Love-struck
Meaning: Overcome with feelings of love
Example Sentence:
• He’s completely love-struck by her.
• She sat in class looking love-struck.
Other ways to say: Smitten, dreamy in love
Fun Fact/Origin: “Struck” means hit hard by love
Usage: When someone is lost in love
39. Have a thing for someone
Meaning: To like someone
Example Sentence:
• She has a thing for that boy in science class.
• He has a thing for her smile.
Other ways to say: Crush, interest
Fun Fact/Origin: Casual way to show someone likes someone else
Usage: Used when there’s interest or feelings
40. Be in a love triangle
Meaning: When three people are romantically involved in some way
Example Sentence:
• It felt like a love triangle at school.
• She didn’t want to be in a love triangle.
Other ways to say: Complicated relationship
Fun Fact/Origin: Triangle shows three people linked
Usage: Used when feelings are shared between three people
41. To fall out of love
Meaning: To stop loving someone
Example Sentence:
• She fell out of love after a year.
• He felt like they were falling out of love.
Other ways to say: Lose feelings, break apart
Fun Fact/Origin: “Fall out” means drop or end
Usage: When someone no longer feels love
42. Heartsick
Meaning: Feeling sad because of love
Example Sentence:
• He was heartsick when she didn’t call back.
• She felt heartsick over the breakup.
Other ways to say: Lovesick, brokenhearted
Fun Fact/Origin: Mixes “heart” with sickness
Usage: Used when someone feels emotional pain from love
43. To be taken
Meaning: To already be in a relationship
Example Sentence:
• Sorry, she’s taken.
• He’s taken, so don’t ask him out.
Other ways to say: In a relationship, not single
Fun Fact/Origin: Means “already chosen by someone”
Usage: Used to show someone is not available
44. To hit it off
Meaning: To get along very well from the start
Example Sentence:
• They hit it off the first time they met.
• We hit it off during group work.
Other ways to say: Get along, click
Fun Fact/Origin: “Hit” means connect quickly
Usage: When people like each other fast
45. Be all heart
Meaning: To be very kind and loving
Example Sentence:
• He’s all heart when it comes to helping.
• She’s all heart with her family.
Other ways to say: Very kind, full of love
Fun Fact/Origin: “Heart” is used to show love and care
Usage: When someone is very kind and caring
46. Love someone to pieces
Meaning: To love someone very much
Example Sentence:
• She loves her little brother to pieces.
• I love my dog to pieces!
Other ways to say: Love deeply, adore
Fun Fact/Origin: “To pieces” adds extra feeling, showing strong love
Usage: When someone feels big love for another
47. Whisper sweet nothings
Meaning: To say soft, loving things
Example Sentence:
• He whispered sweet nothings into her ear.
• They sat talking and whispering sweet nothings.
Other ways to say: Say loving words, romantic talk
Fun Fact/Origin: The “nothings” are soft words that matter emotionally, not in meaning
Usage: When people share private, romantic words
48. Be love-blind
Meaning: To not see someone’s flaws because of love
Example Sentence:
• He’s love-blind and doesn’t see how she treats him.
• She was love-blind and ignored the warning signs.
Other ways to say: Ignore red flags, blinded by love
Fun Fact/Origin: “Blind” here means love blocks clear thinking
Usage: When someone can’t see clearly in love
49. Go gaga over someone
Meaning: To be very excited or in love with someone
Example Sentence:
• He goes gaga over that movie star.
• She went gaga over her crush at camp.
Other ways to say: Be thrilled, be crazy about
Fun Fact/Origin: “Gaga” means silly or overly excited
Usage: When someone is really into another person
50. To pin for someone
Meaning: To miss or long for someone with love
Example Sentence:
• She pined for him all summer.
• He was pinning for his friend who moved.
Other ways to say: Miss deeply, long for
Fun Fact/Origin: “Pine” means to waste away from missing someone
Usage: Used when someone feels deep sadness from missing a loved one
51. Sweep someone off their feet
Meaning: To make someone fall in love quickly
Example Sentence:
• He swept her off her feet with his kind words.
• She swept him off his feet with her smile.
Other ways to say: Win over quickly, charm completely
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows love hitting someone so strongly it feels like falling
Usage: When love starts fast and strong
52. Be someone’s better half
Meaning: A loving term for one’s spouse or partner
Example Sentence:
• He always says she’s his better half.
• My mom is my dad’s better half.
Other ways to say: Spouse, partner
Fun Fact/Origin: It shows that a partner makes you a better person
Usage: Used to talk nicely about one’s partner
53. To break up
Meaning: To end a romantic relationship
Example Sentence:
• They broke up last week.
• I heard Sam and Liz broke up.
Other ways to say: Split, end things
Fun Fact/Origin: “Break” shows something once whole is now apart
Usage: Used when two people stop being a couple
54. Be joined at the hip
Meaning: Two people who are always together
Example Sentence:
• Those two are joined at the hip—they do everything together.
• They’ve been joined at the hip since second grade.
Other ways to say: Always together, inseparable
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from a medical term for twins joined at birth
Usage: Used when people are always with each other
55. To move on
Meaning: To let go of past love and feel ready for new things
Example Sentence:
• She finally moved on after the breakup.
• He’s ready to move on and be happy again.
Other ways to say: Let go, start fresh
Fun Fact/Origin: “Move” means to take steps forward in life
Usage: Used after love ends and someone feels ready for a new chapter
Quiz: Idioms About Love
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 “head over heels” mean?
A) Feeling dizzy
B) Being very much in love
C) Falling while walking
2. If someone “ties the knot,” what did they do?
A) Made a bracelet
B) Went on a hike
C) Got married
3. What does “puppy love” describe?
A) Love between two dogs
B) Young or early romantic feelings
C) A pet’s friendship
4. If two people are called “lovebirds,” what does it mean?
A) They own birds
B) They argue a lot
C) They are a sweet couple
5. What does “have a crush on someone” mean?
A) To break something
B) To like someone secretly
C) To step on someone
6. What does “pop the question” mean?
A) Ask someone to play
B) Ask someone to marry you
C) Ask someone to dance
7. If someone “steals your heart,” what did they do?
A) Took your things
B) Made you fall in love
C) Scared you
8. What does “love is in the air” mean?
A) People are flying
B) There’s a strong wind
C) People around are feeling love
9. What does it mean to “wear your heart on your sleeve”?
A) Put a sticker on your arm
B) Show your feelings openly
C) Cover your heart
10. If someone is “crazy about” someone, how do they feel?
A) Confused
B) Very in love
C) Upset
11. What does “break someone’s heart” mean?
A) Make someone feel really sad in love
B) Hit someone
C) Surprise someone
12. If two people are “an item,” what does it mean?
A) They are a thing you can buy
B) They are a couple
C) They are classmates
13. What does “go steady” mean?
A) Walk slowly
B) Date seriously
C) Ride a bike
14. If someone “falls out of love,” what happened?
A) They got injured
B) They stopped loving someone
C) They tripped
15. What does “be taken” mean?
A) Kidnapped
B) Already in a relationship
C) Removed from a class
16. If someone “hits it off” with another person, what does it mean?
A) They argue
B) They become friends fast
C) They run into each other
17. What does “lovesick” mean?
A) Sick from food
B) Missing someone badly because of love
C) Mad at someone
18. What does “joined at the hip” mean?
A) Glued together
B) Always together
C) Stuck in class
19. If someone “moves on” after a breakup, what did they do?
A) Changed schools
B) Let go of their old love
C) Packed their things
20. What does “sweep someone off their feet” mean?
A) Clean the floor
B) Surprise someone with love
C) Trip someone
Answer Key
- B) Being very much in love
- C) Got married
- B) Young or early romantic feelings
- C) They are a sweet couple
- B) To like someone secretly
- B) Ask someone to marry you
- B) Made you fall in love
- C) People around are feeling love
- B) Show your feelings openly
- B) Very in love
- A) Make someone feel really sad in love
- B) They are a couple
- B) Date seriously
- B) They stopped loving someone
- B) Already in a relationship
- B) They become friends fast
- B) Missing someone badly because of love
- B) Always together
- B) Let go of their old love
- B) Surprise someone with love
Wrapping Up
Idioms about love help people talk about big feelings in fun and simple ways. They show how people feel when they care about someone, get their heart broken, or fall in love. Some idioms sound silly, but they explain strong emotions in a way that’s easy to understand.
By learning these phrases, you can understand stories and conversations better. These idioms also make talking and writing about love more colorful and interesting. Now you know 55 ways people express love with words.
