50 Most Common Marriage Idioms and What They Mean
By Jimmy Sliwa
I can remember when my best friend asked me when I was going to “pop the question.” What he was really wanting to know was if I was going to “put a ring on her finger.”
This exchange got me thinking; what strange phrases we have in the English language. It wasn’t until later that I figured out that these phrases were called idioms. It got me wondering…what other marriage idioms there are?
Come to find out that there is no shortage of marriage idioms in the English language.
According to Webster, an idiom is a group of words that have a specific meaning that cannot be deducted from the individual words.
You know like “tie-the-knot” or “power couple.”
Don’t get caught scratching your head the next time you hear one of these common marriage idioms.
Instead, you can review our list of 50 of the most common marriage idioms and what they mean.
50 Common Marriage Idioms
1. Honeymoon phase
The beginning phase of a marriage characterized by intense love and passion.
2. Tie-the-knot
A phrase meaning to get married.
3. Love Birds
A term for a couple who are madly in love with one another.
4. Marry in Haste, Repent at Leisure
To caution rushing into a marriage without careful consideration.
5. Happily Ever After
A phrase used to describe a perfect and blissful marriage.
6. Head Over Heels
To fall completely in love with someone.
7. Shotgun Wedding
A wedding that happens quickly due to an unplanned wedding.
8. Better Half
A positive term referencing how you think your spouse completes you and makes you better.
9. Wedded Bliss
The happiness and contentment you experience in marriage.
10. Ole Ball and Chain
A humorous term to describe one’s spouse as being the prison guard.
11. Jumping the Broom
A tradition in some cultures where the couple jumps over a broom to signify their union.
12. Marriage of Convenience
A marriage entered into for practical reasons rather than love.
13. Wedding Bells
A metaphorical expression for the joy and excitement associated with a wedding.
14. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue.
A tradition where a bride carries items symbolizing various aspects of her future.
15. To Have and To Hold
A phrase referring to the physical embrace of a husband and wife.
16 Cold Feet
Having nervousness or second thoughts before getting married.
17. Till Death Do Us Part
Part of a traditional wedding vows indicating the commitment to stay married until death.
18. Wedding Crasher
Someone who attends a wedding without an invitation.
19. Marry Beneath One's Station
To get married to someone of a lower social status.
20. Love is Blind
The idea that love can overlook flaws or imperfections in a partner.
21. Marriage Material
Someone who is seen as a good candidate for marriage.
22. Power Couple
A couple that is highly influential or successful in their own right.
23. Pop the Question
A term referring to asking your partner to marry you.
24. Marry Up
To marry someone of higher social status, wealth, or perhaps attractiveness.
25. Diamond in the Rough
Someone with potential who needs to be polished, often used to describe a spouse.
26. Two Peas in a Pod
A phrase describing a couple who is very similar and gets along quite well.
27. Take the Plunge
To make a serious commitment and get married.
28. Marry Off
to Help someone find a suitable spouse.
29. To Wear the Pants in the Relationship
To be the dominant or controlling partner in a marriage.
30. A Bun in the Oven
To be pregnant
31. To Settle Down
To get married and stop your childish ways.
32. To Put a Ring on It
To propose and become engaged.
33. To Wear One's Heart on Their Sleeve
To openly display emotions, especially in matters of love.
34. Love Nest
To have a private, romantic place where a couple can be alone together.
35. Henpecked Husband
A man who is bullied or intimidated by his wife.
36. To Have a Rocky Marriage
To experience frequent conflicts or difficulties in a marriage.
37. To Be Joined at the Hip
To be inseparable, often describing a couple that spends a lot of time together.
38. A Fairytale Wedding
To have a wedding that feels like it’s out of a fairy tale with all the romantic elements.
39. A Whirlwind Romance
To have a passionate and intense romantic relationship that develops quickly.
40. A Diamond Anniversary
A celebration of a 60th wedding anniversary.
41. Apple of my Eye
Someone very precious and dear.
42. Trophy Wife
A young, attractive lady who is considered a status symbol for a wealthy man.
43. A Silver Anniversary
To celebrate a 25th wedding anniversary.
44. A Golden Anniversary
To celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary.
45. Match Made in Heaven
To have a relationship or marriage that seems destined to be.
46. A Love-Hate Relationship
To have a relationship characterized by both deep affection ad intense conflict.
47. Soulmates
A person whom one feels a deep, spiritual connection with.
48. Mail-Order Bride
A woman who is order from a catalog, often from another country
49. Mr. and Mrs. Right
Two people that are thought to be perfect for one another.
50. To Give Someone Away
For the father of the bride to ceremonially give his daughter to the groom in marriage.
Conclusion:
These idioms capture various aspects of marriage, from the passionate and romantic, to the tradition and sometimes humorous. In marriage, you will experience all sorts of emotions. Now hopefully you have some idioms to describe these feelings and traditions within marriage.
