Marriage is a big part of life for many people. It’s when two people decide to share their lives together. Over time, people have created special phrases, called idioms, to talk about marriage. These idioms make talking about love and marriage more interesting. Some are sweet, some are funny, and others give advice about married life.
In this article, we’ll look at different idioms that talk about marriage. Each one has a special meaning. You’ll learn what they mean, how to use them, and even where they came from. These idioms can help you understand how people feel about getting married and living together. Let’s explore them one by one.
Idioms About Marriage
1. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married
Example Sentence:
• My aunt and uncle tied the knot last summer.
• They are planning to tie the knot in June.
Other ways to say: Get married, say “I do”
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase may come from an old custom of tying the couple’s hands with a ribbon to show they are joined together.
Usage: Used when someone is getting married.
2. Walk down the aisle
Meaning: To take part in a wedding ceremony
Example Sentence:
• She dreamed of walking down the aisle in a white dress.
• He watched his sister walk down the aisle with happy tears.
Other ways to say: Get married, have a wedding
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase refers to walking in a church aisle during the wedding.
Usage: Used when talking about a wedding ceremony.
3. Pop the question
Meaning: To ask someone to marry
Example Sentence:
• He popped the question at the beach.
• She was surprised when he popped the question during dinner.
Other ways to say: Propose, ask for marriage
Fun Fact/Origin: “Pop” means to do something suddenly, like a surprise proposal.
Usage: Used when someone asks another person to marry them.
4. Get hitched
Meaning: To get married
Example Sentence:
• They got hitched in a small town.
• My cousin got hitched last weekend.
Other ways to say: Marry, join together
Fun Fact/Origin: “Hitch” means to connect two things, like people in marriage.
Usage: Often used in a fun or casual way.
5. Ball and chain
Meaning: A joking way to talk about one’s spouse
Example Sentence:
• He joked about his wife being the ball and chain.
• Some people use “ball and chain” to tease their partner.
Other ways to say: Spouse (joking), partner
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from old prisons where people wore a ball and chain. It is now used humorously.
Usage: Used jokingly to refer to a husband or wife.
6. Match made in heaven
Meaning: A perfect couple
Example Sentence:
• My grandparents are a match made in heaven.
• They look so happy—it’s a match made in heaven.
Other ways to say: Perfect match, great couple
Fun Fact/Origin: It suggests that some couples were meant to be together, like it was decided in heaven.
Usage: Used to describe a very happy couple.
7. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married
Example Sentence:
• My neighbors tied the knot in their backyard.
• They plan to tie the knot next year.
Other ways to say: Say vows, become husband and wife
Fun Fact/Origin: Repeated entry – skip in final count.
Usage: Use once per article.
7. Settle down
Meaning: To begin a steady, married life
Example Sentence:
• They want to settle down and buy a home.
• He settled down after he got married.
Other ways to say: Start a family, begin a calm life
Fun Fact/Origin: It means to stop moving around and start a steady life.
Usage: Used when people start a serious relationship or marriage.
8. Marry into money
Meaning: To marry someone who is rich
Example Sentence:
• He married into money and now lives in a mansion.
• Some say she married into money for comfort.
Other ways to say: Marry someone wealthy
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase means that wealth comes from the person you marry.
Usage: Used when someone gains money through marriage.
9. Cold feet
Meaning: Feeling nervous before a wedding
Example Sentence:
• She had cold feet before the big day.
• He got cold feet but still walked down the aisle.
Other ways to say: Feeling unsure, nervous about marriage
Fun Fact/Origin: “Cold feet” means fear before doing something big.
Usage: Used when someone feels worried before getting married.
10. Shotgun wedding
Meaning: A wedding that happens quickly, usually because of pregnancy
Example Sentence:
• They had a shotgun wedding after finding out she was pregnant.
• A shotgun wedding isn’t always planned.
Other ways to say: Quick wedding
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from old days when families rushed weddings to avoid shame.
Usage: Used to describe a rushed wedding.
11. Wear the pants
Meaning: To be the boss in the marriage
Example Sentence:
• People say she wears the pants in the family.
• He lets her wear the pants at home.
Other ways to say: Be in charge, make the decisions
Fun Fact/Origin: Pants used to be worn only by men, who were seen as leaders.
Usage: Used to show who has more control in a relationship.
12. Join in holy matrimony
Meaning: To be married in a formal or religious way
Example Sentence:
• They were joined in holy matrimony at the church.
• The priest said, “You are now joined in holy matrimony.”
Other ways to say: Be married, become husband and wife
Fun Fact/Origin: “Holy matrimony” is a phrase used in religious wedding ceremonies.
Usage: Formal use, often during a wedding.
13. Wedding bells
Meaning: A sign that a wedding is happening
Example Sentence:
• I hear wedding bells for those two!
• The sound of wedding bells filled the air.
Other ways to say: Wedding time, getting married
Fun Fact/Origin: Churches used to ring bells during weddings.
Usage: Used to suggest someone will soon get married.
14. Lovebirds
Meaning: A couple who is very much in love
Example Sentence:
• The lovebirds couldn’t stop smiling at each other.
• Those lovebirds always sit together at lunch.
Other ways to say: Sweet couple, romantic pair
Fun Fact/Origin: Real lovebirds are small birds that sit close together.
Usage: Used for couples who act lovingly.
15. Fall head over heels
Meaning: To fall deeply in love
Example Sentence:
• She fell head over heels for him.
• He is head over heels in love with his wife.
Other ways to say: Be crazy in love, totally in love
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom shows someone so in love, it’s like flipping upside down.
Usage: Used to show strong romantic feelings.
16. Go through thick and thin
Meaning: To stay together during good and bad times
Example Sentence:
• They stayed married through thick and thin.
• A good marriage lasts through thick and thin.
Other ways to say: Stay strong together, stay no matter what
Fun Fact/Origin: “Thick and thin” means easy and hard times.
Usage: Used to show loyalty in marriage.
17. Hitched for life
Meaning: Married forever
Example Sentence:
• They got hitched for life in high school.
• We’re hitched for life—no turning back.
Other ways to say: Married forever, lifelong partner
Fun Fact/Origin: Adds “for life” to “get hitched” to mean always together.
Usage: Used in a light, sweet way to show lasting love.
18. The old ball and chain
Meaning: A funny way to refer to a spouse
Example Sentence:
• He calls his husband the old ball and chain.
• She laughs when he jokes about the ball and chain.
Other ways to say: Partner (humorous), other half
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from prison terms, now said in fun.
Usage: Used jokingly, never in a mean way.
19. Wedlock
Meaning: The state of being married
Example Sentence:
• They are joined in holy wedlock.
• She was born in wedlock.
Other ways to say: Marriage, union
Fun Fact/Origin: An old word that means “married life.”
Usage: Used in formal or older settings.
20. Happily ever after
Meaning: A happy married life, like in fairy tales
Example Sentence:
• The story ends with them living happily ever after.
• They want their own happily ever after.
Other ways to say: Happy ending, perfect life
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from fairy tales like Cinderella.
Usage: Used to talk about a happy marriage.
21. Wedding jitters
Meaning: Nervous feelings before getting married
Example Sentence:
• She had wedding jitters the night before.
• He got wedding jitters during the rehearsal.
Other ways to say: Pre-wedding nerves, marriage worries
Fun Fact/Origin: “Jitters” means shaky nerves.
Usage: Used when someone feels nervous before a wedding.
22. Tie the knot again
Meaning: Renew marriage vows or remarry
Example Sentence:
• They tied the knot again on their 25th anniversary.
• Some couples like to tie the knot again later in life.
Other ways to say: Renew vows, remarry
Fun Fact/Origin: Same idiom, with a new meaning
Usage: Used for vow renewal or second weddings.
23. Wedded bliss
Meaning: Happiness in marriage
Example Sentence:
• They’re living in wedded bliss.
• She posted photos of wedded bliss on vacation.
Other ways to say: Happy marriage, joyful union
Fun Fact/Origin: “Wedded” means married, and “bliss” means joy.
Usage: Used to describe joyful married life.
24. Make an honest woman/man
Meaning: To marry someone you’re dating
Example Sentence:
• He finally made an honest woman of her.
• She joked, “Make an honest man of him already!”
Other ways to say: Marry the person, formalize relationship
Fun Fact/Origin: An old phrase, now often said as a joke.
Usage: Used playfully to mean getting married.
25. Chain together
Meaning: To be bound together in marriage
Example Sentence:
• They are chained together for life.
• Some say marriage chains you to your partner.
Other ways to say: Bound together, committed
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of being tightly joined.
Usage: Can be used humorously or seriously.
26. Love, honor, and cherish
Meaning: Promises made in a wedding
Example Sentence:
• He vowed to love, honor, and cherish her.
• Those words are in many wedding vows.
Other ways to say: Promise love, care, and respect
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in traditional wedding ceremonies.
Usage: Used in marriage vows or promises.
27. Say “I do”
Meaning: To agree to marry someone
Example Sentence:
• She said “I do” with a big smile.
• He was nervous but said “I do.”
Other ways to say: Agree to marry, accept proposal
Fun Fact/Origin: This is what people say during wedding vows.
Usage: Used during wedding ceremonies.
28. Tie your life with someone
Meaning: Join lives in marriage
Example Sentence:
• When you get married, you tie your life with someone else.
• They tied their lives together at the wedding.
Other ways to say: Share your life, start together
Fun Fact/Origin: Marriage is seen as two lives becoming one.
Usage: Used when describing joining lives through marriage.
29. Marry young
Meaning: Get married at an early age
Example Sentence:
• They married young, just after high school.
• Some people choose to marry young.
Other ways to say: Early marriage
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom simply describes age at marriage.
Usage: Used when talking about young couples.
30. Love at first sight
Meaning: Falling in love the first time you meet
Example Sentence:
• It was love at first sight when they met.
• He said it was love at first sight.
Other ways to say: Instant love, quick spark
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase shows a strong first connection.
Usage: Used for sudden, strong romantic feelings.
31. Walk into marriage
Meaning: To enter marriage willingly or knowingly
Example Sentence:
• They walked into marriage after dating for years.
• Don’t walk into marriage without thinking.
Other ways to say: Start marriage, enter married life
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests making a choice, not rushing.
Usage: Used when talking about starting a marriage with awareness.
32. Better half
Meaning: A loving way to refer to one’s spouse
Example Sentence:
• I’m here with my better half.
• He always brings his better half to events.
Other ways to say: Spouse, partner
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests the spouse is the “nicer” half of the couple.
Usage: Used kindly to talk about a husband or wife.
33. Love is blind
Meaning: Love makes people overlook faults
Example Sentence:
• He didn’t see her bad habits—love is blind.
• They say love is blind when couples ignore problems.
Other ways to say: Love overlooks flaws
Fun Fact/Origin: A very old saying found in Shakespeare’s plays.
Usage: Used when love causes people to miss warning signs.
34. Put a ring on it
Meaning: To propose or get engaged
Example Sentence:
• If you love her, put a ring on it.
• He put a ring on it last month.
Other ways to say: Get engaged, propose
Fun Fact/Origin: Made famous by a Beyoncé song.
Usage: Used when talking about asking someone to marry.
35. Hit the rocks
Meaning: A marriage is having problems
Example Sentence:
• Their marriage hit the rocks last year.
• Things hit the rocks after years of stress.
Other ways to say: Trouble in marriage, problems
Fun Fact/Origin: From ships hitting rocks and getting damaged.
Usage: Used when a marriage is in trouble.
36. Take the plunge
Meaning: To decide to get married
Example Sentence:
• They finally took the plunge after 10 years.
• Are you ready to take the plunge?
Other ways to say: Decide to marry, jump into marriage
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to jumping into deep water—brave action.
Usage: Used when someone chooses to get married.
37. Out of the honeymoon phase
Meaning: No longer in the early happy stage of marriage
Example Sentence:
• They’re out of the honeymoon phase now.
• The honeymoon phase ended quickly.
Other ways to say: Marriage is getting real, real life begins
Fun Fact/Origin: “Honeymoon” means sweet early times.
Usage: Used after early excitement in marriage fades.
38. A good catch
Meaning: A great person to marry
Example Sentence:
• Her husband is a good catch.
• He’s smart and kind—a good catch.
Other ways to say: Great partner, lucky find
Fun Fact/Origin: From fishing—finding something valuable.
Usage: Used to describe someone who’d make a great spouse.
39. To wed
Meaning: To get married (formal word)
Example Sentence:
• They wed last spring.
• She plans to wed her high school sweetheart.
Other ways to say: Get married, tie the knot
Fun Fact/Origin: A very old English word still used today.
Usage: Often used in news or formal writing.
40. The one
Meaning: The perfect person to marry
Example Sentence:
• She believes he’s the one.
• He waited until he found the one.
Other ways to say: Soulmate, perfect match
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of “the one and only.”
Usage: Used when someone finds a lifelong partner.
41. Marry up
Meaning: To marry someone richer or more successful
Example Sentence:
• He married up into a wealthy family.
• Some people think she married up.
Other ways to say: Marry someone better off
Fun Fact/Origin: “Up” means a step higher in status.
Usage: Used when marriage brings someone into a better lifestyle.
42. Joined at the hip
Meaning: Very close couple, always together
Example Sentence:
• Those two are joined at the hip.
• Ever since they got married, they’ve been joined at the hip.
Other ways to say: Always together, very close
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from twins born connected.
Usage: Used for couples who spend lots of time together.
43. Grow old together
Meaning: To stay married for life
Example Sentence:
• They hope to grow old together.
• I want to grow old with you.
Other ways to say: Stay married forever
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in love stories and vows.
Usage: Used when people plan to be with someone for life.
44. Break off the engagement
Meaning: To cancel a planned wedding
Example Sentence:
• They broke off the engagement last week.
• She decided to break off the engagement.
Other ways to say: Cancel the wedding, call it off
Fun Fact/Origin: This is a formal way of ending a wedding plan.
Usage: Used when someone changes their mind before marrying.
45. Wed in haste, repent at leisure
Meaning: If you marry too fast, you may regret it later
Example Sentence:
• My aunt says, “Wed in haste, repent at leisure.”
• It’s smart to think before marrying—wed in haste, repent at leisure.
Other ways to say: Don’t rush into marriage
Fun Fact/Origin: Old proverb warning people not to rush into marriage.
Usage: Used as advice about taking time before getting married.
Quiz: Idioms About Marriage
Instructions: Choose the correct meaning for each idiom. There is only one right answer for each question. Think about what the idiom is saying and how it’s used.
Question Key
1. What does “tie the knot” mean?
A) To go on vacation
B) To get married
C) To open a gift
2. If someone “pops the question,” what are they doing?
A) Asking someone to dance
B) Asking someone to play a game
C) Asking someone to marry them
3. What does it mean when someone says “cold feet” before a wedding?
A) They are very cold
B) They are feeling nervous
C) They want to run away
4. What is a “match made in heaven”?
A) Two people who never agree
B) A couple that is perfect together
C) Two people who just met
5. What does “lovebirds” mean?
A) A couple that argues a lot
B) People who act like birds
C) A couple that is very affectionate
6. If someone says “take the plunge,” what are they doing?
A) Swimming in the ocean
B) Deciding to get married
C) Going on a roller coaster
7. What does “ball and chain” mean in a funny way?
A) A type of toy
B) A prison tool
C) A joking way to refer to one’s spouse
8. What does it mean to “grow old together”?
A) Stay friends with older people
B) Get old by yourself
C) Spend your whole life married to someone
9. If a marriage “hits the rocks,” what does it mean?
A) The couple is having problems
B) They are going on vacation
C) The couple is buying a boat
10. What does “say ‘I do'” mean?
A) Agree to go on a trip
B) Say yes to getting married
C) Say no to a question
11. What does “wed in haste, repent at leisure” mean?
A) Don’t eat fast
B) Marry quickly and regret it later
C) Get ready for a party
12. What does “joined at the hip” mean?
A) Two people are wearing the same clothes
B) They are always together
C) They are in a race
13. If someone is your “better half,” who are they?
A) Your teacher
B) Your friend
C) Your spouse
14. What does it mean to “break off the engagement”?
A) To break something
B) To cancel a wedding plan
C) To make a phone call
15. What does it mean when someone says “love is blind”?
A) Love makes people see better
B) Love is about eyesight
C) Love makes people overlook flaws
Answer Key
- B) To get married
- C) Asking someone to marry them
- B) They are feeling nervous
- B) A couple that is perfect together
- C) A couple that is very affectionate
- B) Deciding to get married
- C) A joking way to refer to one’s spouse
- C) Spend your whole life married to someone
- A) The couple is having problems
- B) Say yes to getting married
- B) Marry quickly and regret it later
- B) They are always together
- C) Your spouse
- B) To cancel a wedding plan
- C) Love makes people overlook flaws
Wrapping Up
Learning idioms about marriage can help us understand how people talk about love and relationships in fun and creative ways. These sayings show what people feel when they get married, stay together, or even face problems.
Now that you know these idioms, you can spot them in books, shows, and even real conversations. They help make stories about marriage more colorful. Keep practicing, and you’ll remember them easily.
