Relationships are an important part of life for people in the USA. Whether it’s with family, friends, or someone special, the way people connect and interact can be described using idioms. Idioms are common phrases that have meanings different from the words alone. They make language more interesting and help us understand feelings and ideas about relationships in a fun way.
In this article, you will learn 33 popular idioms about relationships. Each idiom will be explained with simple meanings and examples you can relate to. There will also be a quiz to test your understanding. Knowing these idioms can help you better express your feelings and understand how others talk about relationships in everyday American English.
Idioms About Relationships
1. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married.
Example Sentence: My aunt and uncle decided to tie the knot last summer. She will tie the knot next month in a big ceremony.
Other ways to say: Get married, say “I do”
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from old wedding customs where the couple’s hands were tied together to show their union.
Usage: Used when talking about marriage.
2. On the same page
Meaning: Agreeing or understanding something in the same way.
Example Sentence: Before planning the trip, we made sure we were on the same page. Mom and dad are on the same page about the rules.
Other ways to say: Agree, understand each other
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from reading the same page in a book to make sure everyone has the same information.
Usage: Used when people agree or share the same thoughts.
3. Break the ice
Meaning: To start a conversation and make people feel comfortable.
Example Sentence: He told a funny joke to break the ice at the party. At school, she broke the ice by saying hello to new students.
Other ways to say: Start talking, get comfortable
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from ships breaking ice in frozen waters to move forward.
Usage: Used when starting a talk in an awkward or new situation.
4. Hit it off
Meaning: To get along very well from the start.
Example Sentence: They met at the park and really hit it off right away. We hit it off during the first day of class.
Other ways to say: Click, get along
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from sports where a good hit means a great start.
Usage: Used when two people become friends or connect quickly.
5. Heart-to-heart
Meaning: A deep, honest talk between people.
Example Sentence: After the fight, they had a heart-to-heart conversation. Mom and I had a heart-to-heart about school.
Other ways to say: Honest talk, serious talk
Fun Fact/Origin: It refers to sharing feelings from the heart.
Usage: Used when people share their true feelings.
6. Go steady
Meaning: To date one person regularly.
Example Sentence: They decided to go steady after the school dance. Sarah and Tom have been going steady for a month.
Other ways to say: Date regularly, be boyfriend and girlfriend
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase started in the early 1900s to mean steady dating.
Usage: Used for a committed dating relationship.
7. Break up
Meaning: To end a romantic relationship.
Example Sentence: They decided to break up because they had different plans. After the fight, the couple broke up.
Other ways to say: Split up, end the relationship
Fun Fact/Origin: “Break up” means to separate or split apart.
Usage: Used when a couple stops dating.
8. Cold shoulder
Meaning: To ignore or show dislike to someone.
Example Sentence: After the argument, he gave her the cold shoulder. She felt sad when her friends gave her the cold shoulder.
Other ways to say: Ignore, avoid
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from turning your shoulder away from someone to show you don’t want to talk.
Usage: Used when someone is treated coldly.
9. A shoulder to cry on
Meaning: Someone who listens and supports you when you are sad.
Example Sentence: When I was upset, my best friend was a shoulder to cry on. Dad was a shoulder to cry on after I lost the game.
Other ways to say: Supportive friend, comforter
Fun Fact/Origin: It means offering your shoulder for someone to lean on or cry on.
Usage: Used when talking about emotional support.
10. Pop the question
Meaning: To ask someone to marry you.
Example Sentence: He popped the question during their vacation. She was surprised when he popped the question at dinner.
Other ways to say: Propose, ask to marry
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from the surprise or “pop” feeling when someone asks to marry.
Usage: Used when someone asks for marriage.
11. Lovebirds
Meaning: Two people who are very much in love.
Example Sentence: The lovebirds walked hand in hand in the park. Everyone said they were such cute lovebirds.
Other ways to say: Sweethearts, a loving couple
Fun Fact/Origin: Lovebirds are small birds known for being close and affectionate.
Usage: Used to describe couples who are close and loving.
12. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married.
Example Sentence: My cousin and her boyfriend will tie the knot next summer. After dating for years, they finally tied the knot.
Other ways to say: Get married, say “I do”
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from old wedding customs where the couple’s hands were tied together to show their union.
Usage: Used when talking about marriage.
13. Wear your heart on your sleeve
Meaning: To show your feelings openly.
Example Sentence: She wears her heart on her sleeve, so everyone knows how she feels. He wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn’t hide his emotions.
Other ways to say: Be open about feelings, show emotions
Fun Fact/Origin: Knights in the Middle Ages wore colors on their sleeves to show which lady they loved.
Usage: Used when someone openly shows emotions.
14. Better half
Meaning: A person’s spouse or partner.
Example Sentence: My better half and I enjoy cooking together. He always talks about his better half with love.
Other ways to say: Spouse, partner
Fun Fact/Origin: It means the other part of a whole, showing love and importance.
Usage: Used to talk about one’s romantic partner.
15. Fall head over heels
Meaning: To fall deeply in love with someone.
Example Sentence: She fell head over heels for him after their first date. They fell head over heels in love very quickly.
Other ways to say: Fall deeply in love, be smitten
Fun Fact/Origin: It comes from the idea of being so in love you fall completely.
Usage: Used when someone loves another person very much.
16. Break the news
Meaning: To tell someone important or bad news.
Example Sentence: I had to break the news that the party was canceled. She broke the news of her engagement to her family.
Other ways to say: Tell, announce
Fun Fact/Origin: It means to share information, especially surprising or serious.
Usage: Used when sharing important news.
17. Get cold feet
Meaning: To feel nervous or unsure before doing something important.
Example Sentence: He got cold feet before asking her out. She got cold feet right before the wedding.
Other ways to say: Get nervous, lose confidence
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase might come from people feeling cold in their feet when scared.
Usage: Used when someone feels scared to do something.
18. Patch things up
Meaning: To fix a problem in a relationship.
Example Sentence: They had an argument but later patched things up. Mom and dad patched things up after their fight.
Other ways to say: Make up, fix things
Fun Fact/Origin: Like sewing a patch on clothes to fix a tear.
Usage: Used when people fix their relationship.
19. Two peas in a pod
Meaning: Two people who are very similar or close.
Example Sentence: Those two kids are like two peas in a pod; they always do everything together. My sister and I are two peas in a pod.
Other ways to say: Very close, alike
Fun Fact/Origin: Peas grow closely together in a pod, showing closeness.
Usage: Used to describe close friends or couples.
20. Keep someone at arm’s length
Meaning: To avoid getting too close emotionally.
Example Sentence: He keeps people at arm’s length because he’s shy. She kept him at arm’s length after the argument.
Other ways to say: Stay distant, avoid closeness
Fun Fact/Origin: It means keeping someone far enough away to avoid contact.
Usage: Used when someone does not want to get too close.
21. Love at first sight
Meaning: To fall in love immediately after seeing someone.
Example Sentence: They believed in love at first sight when they met at the park. It was love at first sight for both of them.
Other ways to say: Instant love, immediate attraction
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase is often used in romantic stories.
Usage: Used when love happens quickly.
22. Hit the roof
Meaning: To get very angry.
Example Sentence: Dad hit the roof when he found out about the broken window. She hit the roof when her phone was lost.
Other ways to say: Get mad, lose your temper
Fun Fact/Origin: It means anger rising like hitting the ceiling.
Usage: Used when someone becomes angry.
23. Play hard to get
Meaning: To act uninterested to make someone try harder.
Example Sentence: She played hard to get, so he asked her out twice. He played hard to get to see if she really liked him.
Other ways to say: Act shy, pretend not interested
Fun Fact/Origin: A dating tactic to increase interest.
Usage: Used when someone tries to seem less available.
24. Make up
Meaning: To stop arguing and become friends again.
Example Sentence: They had a fight but made up before dinner. My sister and I always make up after a fight.
Other ways to say: Reconcile, forgive
Fun Fact/Origin: Means to fix things and be friends again.
Usage: Used when people stop arguing.
25. On thin ice
Meaning: In a risky or dangerous situation, especially in a relationship.
Example Sentence: After forgetting her birthday, he was on thin ice. You’re on thin ice if you don’t apologize soon.
Other ways to say: At risk, in trouble
Fun Fact/Origin: Thin ice can break easily, causing danger.
Usage: Used when someone is close to getting in trouble.
26. Cold feet
Meaning: To feel nervous before an important event or decision.
Example Sentence: He got cold feet before the big date. She got cold feet before moving to a new city.
Other ways to say: Get scared, feel nervous
Fun Fact/Origin: People’s feet might feel cold when scared.
Usage: Used when nervous about something.
27. Put your foot down
Meaning: To be firm and say no.
Example Sentence: Mom put her foot down about bedtime. He put his foot down and said no to the party.
Other ways to say: Be firm, make a rule
Fun Fact/Origin: Means to stop something by standing firmly.
Usage: Used when someone insists on a decision.
28. Break someone’s heart
Meaning: To cause someone emotional pain.
Example Sentence: She broke his heart when she moved away. He broke her heart by ending the relationship.
Other ways to say: Hurt emotionally, make sad
Fun Fact/Origin: The heart is linked to feelings of love.
Usage: Used when someone is very hurt emotionally.
29. Wear your heart on your sleeve
Meaning: To show feelings openly.
Example Sentence: He wears his heart on his sleeve and tells everyone how he feels. She wears her heart on her sleeve and cries easily.
Other ways to say: Show emotions, be open
Fun Fact/Origin: Knights wore colors on their sleeves to show love.
Usage: Used when someone is open about feelings.
30. Head over heels
Meaning: Very much in love.
Example Sentence: They fell head over heels after their first date. He was head over heels for his new girlfriend.
Other ways to say: Deeply in love, smitten
Fun Fact/Origin: Means to be so in love you feel like you are flipping.
Usage: Used for strong love feelings.
31. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married.
Example Sentence: They will tie the knot next year. After dating for years, they tied the knot.
Other ways to say: Get married, say “I do”
Fun Fact/Origin: Wedding custom of tying hands together.
Usage: Used for marriage.
32. Break the ice
Meaning: Start a conversation to make people comfortable.
Example Sentence: He broke the ice by telling a joke. We broke the ice at the party.
Other ways to say: Start talking, get comfortable
Fun Fact/Origin: Ships breaking ice to move forward.
Usage: Used when meeting new people.
33. Hit it off
Meaning: To get along well immediately.
Example Sentence: They hit it off at the party. We hit it off on the first day.
Other ways to say: Click, get along
Fun Fact/Origin: From sports, a good hit means a great start.
Usage: Used when people connect fast.
Quiz: Idioms About Relationships
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question about idioms related to relationships.
Question Key
1. What does “tie the knot” mean?
A) To get married
B) To start a fight
C) To go on a trip
2. If two people are “on the same page,” what does it mean?
A) They agree or understand each other
B) They are reading a book
C) They are upset with each other
3. What does it mean to “break the ice”?
A) To make people feel comfortable and start talking
B) To go outside in winter
C) To fall and get hurt
4. If two people “hit it off,” what happens?
A) They argue a lot
B) They get along well quickly
C) They ignore each other
5. What is a “heart-to-heart” talk?
A) A deep, honest conversation
B) A game you play
C) A quick chat
6. What does “break up” mean?
A) To finish a romantic relationship
B) To fix something
C) To start dating
7. If someone gives you the “cold shoulder,” what are they doing?
A) Ignoring or avoiding you
B) Hugging you
C) Talking loudly
8. What does “pop the question” mean?
A) To ask someone to marry you
B) To ask for directions
C) To surprise someone with a gift
9. What does “fall head over heels” mean?
A) To fall down
B) To fall deeply in love
C) To trip while walking
10. If you “get cold feet” before a big event, how do you feel?
A) Nervous or unsure
B) Excited
C) Happy and relaxed
11. What does “patch things up” mean?
A) To fix a problem in a relationship
B) To make a new friend
C) To start a fight
12. What does it mean to “keep someone at arm’s length”?
A) To avoid getting too close emotionally
B) To hug someone tightly
C) To share a secret
13. If someone “wears their heart on their sleeve,” what do they do?
A) Hide their feelings
B) Show their feelings openly
C) Wear a special shirt
Answer Key
- A) To get married
- A) They agree or understand each other
- A) To make people feel comfortable and start talking
- B) They get along well quickly
- A) A deep, honest conversation
- A) To finish a romantic relationship
- A) Ignoring or avoiding you
- A) To ask someone to marry you
- B) To fall deeply in love
- A) Nervous or unsure
- A) To fix a problem in a relationship
- A) To avoid getting too close emotionally
- B) Show their feelings openly
Wrapping Up
Relationships are important to people in the USA, and idioms help us talk about them in a fun way. These phrases make it easier to express feelings and understand what others mean. Learning idioms about relationships helps you connect better in conversations.
Now that you know 33 idioms and took the quiz, you can recognize and use these phrases in everyday life. Whether you talk about love, friendship, or family, idioms add color to your words. Keep practicing, and you’ll get more comfortable using them!
