Marriage, a profound union of love and partnership, is a journey filled with joy, challenges, and growth, and idioms for marriage capture its essence with heartfelt, figurative expressions that add depth and charm to our conversations about wedded life. These phrases use metaphors, similes, and vivid imagery to describe the commitment, dynamics, and experiences of married couples, making discussions about matrimony more poetic and relatable. In this romantic listicle, we’ll explore 53 idioms related to marriage, unpack their meanings, and illustrate how they can infuse your conversations about love and partnership with warmth and wisdom. Let’s dive into this loving collection of idioms and celebrate the many facets of marriage!
What is an Idiom for Marriage?
Idioms for marriage are figurative expressions that creatively describe the experiences, emotions, and dynamics of married life, using imagery and metaphor to convey meaning beyond literal descriptions. These phrases make conversations about commitment, partnership, or marital challenges more expressive, relatable, and often humorous, whether you’re talking about tying the knot or weathering storms together. Each idiom below is explained with its meaning and brought to life with a long, illustrative sentence to show its use in context:
Idioms for Marriage
1. Tie the Knot
Meaning: To get married.
In a Sentence: After years of dating and countless adventures together, they finally decided to tie the knot, celebrating their love with a beautiful ceremony surrounded by family and friends.
2. Pop the Question
Meaning: To propose marriage.
In a Sentence: On a serene evening by the lake, he popped the question with a trembling voice and a sparkling ring, setting the stage for their journey toward a lifelong marriage.
3. Walk Down the Aisle
Meaning: To participate in a wedding ceremony, typically as the bride.
In a Sentence: She walked down the aisle in a stunning gown, her heart swelling with love as she approached her partner, ready to embark on their shared life as a married couple.
4. Take the Plunge
Meaning: To commit to marriage, often with a sense of boldness.
In a Sentence: Despite their friends’ doubts about their whirlwind romance, they took the plunge, confidently entering marriage with a shared vision of a joyful future together.
5. Settle Down
Meaning: To establish a stable, married life.
In a Sentence: After years of traveling the world, they decided to settle down, building a cozy home and a strong marriage rooted in mutual love and shared dreams.
6. Hitch Your Wagon to a Star
Meaning: To marry someone with high aspirations or potential.
In a Sentence: She hitched her wagon to a star by marrying an ambitious entrepreneur, their marriage thriving as they supported each other’s dreams and built a successful life together.
7. A Match Made in Heaven
Meaning: A perfect marital partnership.
In a Sentence: Their shared values and unwavering devotion made their marriage a match made in heaven, a union that seemed destined to flourish through every challenge and joy.
8. Lovebirds
Meaning: A married couple who are openly affectionate.
In a Sentence: Even after decades of marriage, they remained lovebirds, holding hands and sharing sweet glances that warmed the hearts of everyone at the family reunion.
9. Old Ball and Chain
Meaning: A humorous or negative reference to a spouse, implying restriction.
In a Sentence: He jokingly called his wife the old ball and chain, but his loving actions showed that their marriage was a source of joy and strength, not limitation.
10. Wear the Pants
Meaning: To be the dominant partner in a marriage.
In a Sentence: In their marriage, she seemed to wear the pants, confidently making decisions, though their mutual respect ensured both voices were valued in their shared life.
11. Joined at the Hip
Meaning: A couple who are inseparable or always together.
In a Sentence: The newlyweds were joined at the hip, spending every moment together, their marriage blossoming as they explored their new life as a devoted pair.
12. Better Half
Meaning: A loving term for one’s spouse, implying they complete you.
In a Sentence: He introduced his wife as his better half, crediting her wisdom and kindness for making their marriage a source of endless happiness and growth.
13. Ride Out the Storm
Meaning: To endure challenges in a marriage together.
In a Sentence: When financial struggles tested their marriage, they rode out the storm, supporting each other with unwavering commitment until brighter days returned.
14. Two Peas in a Pod
Meaning: A couple who are very similar or compatible.
In a Sentence: Their shared love for adventure and quirky humor made them two peas in a pod, their marriage thriving on a deep connection that seemed effortless and natural.
15. On the Rocks
Meaning: A marriage experiencing serious difficulties.
In a Sentence: Their marriage was on the rocks after months of miscommunication, but with counseling and effort, they rebuilt their bond and rediscovered their love.
16. Love Nest
Meaning: A cozy, intimate home shared by a married couple.
In a Sentence: They transformed their small apartment into a love nest, filling it with personal touches that made their marriage feel warm and cherished every day.
17. Mend Fences
Meaning: To repair a strained marriage or relationship.
In a Sentence: After a heated disagreement, they mended fences with open communication and heartfelt apologies, strengthening their marriage with renewed trust and understanding.
18. Bury the Hatchet
Meaning: To resolve a marital conflict and restore harmony.
In a Sentence: After weeks of tension, they buried the hatchet with a long talk, their marriage growing stronger as they committed to moving forward with love and forgiveness.
19. Clear the Air
Meaning: To resolve marital misunderstandings through discussion.
In a Sentence: To save their marriage from lingering resentment, they cleared the air with an honest conversation, addressing issues and rebuilding their bond with clarity and care.
20. Patch Things Up
Meaning: To repair a marriage after a disagreement.
In a Sentence: After their argument over finances, they patched things up with a compromise, their marriage flourishing as they learned to navigate challenges as a united team.
21. The Honeymoon Phase
Meaning: The early, blissful period of a marriage.
In a Sentence: During their honeymoon phase, they were inseparable, their marriage filled with romantic gestures and carefree moments that set a joyful tone for their life together.
22. Till Death Do Us Part
Meaning: A vow of lifelong commitment in marriage.
In a Sentence: They promised till death do us part, their marriage built on a deep commitment to face every joy and challenge together for the rest of their lives.
23. Made for Each Other
Meaning: A couple perfectly suited for marriage.
In a Sentence: Their complementary personalities and shared passions proved they were made for each other, their marriage a harmonious partnership that inspired those around them.
24. Sparks Fly
Meaning: Intense romantic chemistry in a marriage.
In a Sentence: Even after years of marriage, sparks flew whenever they danced together, their love and passion keeping their relationship vibrant and deeply connected.
25. In Sickness and in Health
Meaning: A vow to support each other through all circumstances.
In a Sentence: Their marriage was tested by her illness, but they honored their vow of in sickness and in health, their love growing stronger through unwavering support and care.
26. For Better or Worse
Meaning: A commitment to stay married through good and bad times.
In a Sentence: They faced career setbacks and triumphs together, their marriage enduring for better or worse with a resilience that deepened their bond over the years.
27. Get Hitched
Meaning: To get married, often informally.
In a Sentence: They got hitched in a spontaneous ceremony at city hall, their marriage beginning with a joyful leap into a life filled with love and shared adventures.
28. The Old Married Couple
Meaning: A couple who act comfortably familiar, often after long marriage.
In a Sentence: Even as newlyweds, they bickered and laughed like an old married couple, their marriage already rich with the ease and affection of a lifelong partnership.
29. Soulmate
Meaning: A spouse ideally suited to you in marriage.
In a Sentence: He found his soulmate in her, their marriage a profound connection that felt like destiny, with every moment together deepening their love and understanding.
30. Grow Old Together
Meaning: To spend a lifetime married, aging as partners.
In a Sentence: They dreamed of growing old together, their marriage a journey of shared memories and love that would carry them through decades of laughter and tears.
31. Give and Take
Meaning: Compromise and balance in a marriage.
In a Sentence: Their marriage thrived on give and take, each partner compromising and supporting the other to create a harmonious life filled with mutual respect and love.
32. Keep the Flame Alive
Meaning: To maintain passion and romance in a marriage.
In a Sentence: They kept the flame alive with regular date nights and surprise gestures, their marriage remaining vibrant and passionate even after years of routine life.
33. Build a Life Together
Meaning: To create a shared future through marriage.
In a Sentence: They built a life together with a home, careers, and dreams, their marriage a strong foundation for a future filled with love, growth, and shared accomplishments.
34. Weather the Storm
Meaning: To endure marital difficulties together.
In a Sentence: When trust issues threatened their marriage, they weathered the storm with counseling and patience, emerging with a stronger, more resilient partnership.
35. Tying the Gordian Knot
Meaning: Entering a complex or binding marriage commitment.
In a Sentence: By tying the Gordian knot, they embraced the complexities of marriage, their love strong enough to navigate the intricate challenges of a lifelong commitment.
36. Hand in Hand
Meaning: Facing marriage as equal partners.
In a Sentence: They faced every challenge hand in hand, their marriage a partnership of equals who supported each other through life’s highs and lows with unwavering devotion.
37. Put a Ring on It
Meaning: To propose or commit to marriage.
In a Sentence: After years of dating, he finally put a ring on it, their marriage beginning with a romantic proposal that marked the start of their lifelong journey together.
38. Marital Bliss
Meaning: The happiness and joy of a successful marriage.
In a Sentence: They basked in marital bliss, their marriage filled with laughter, shared dreams, and a deep love that made every day feel like a celebration of their bond.
39. Carry the Torch
Meaning: To remain devoted to a spouse, even through challenges.
In a Sentence: Even during their long-distance phase, she carried the torch for him, their marriage sustained by her unwavering love and commitment until they reunited.
40. Love Conquers All
Meaning: Love can overcome any marital obstacle.
In a Sentence: Despite cultural differences and family objections, their marriage proved that love conquers all, thriving through challenges with a bond that grew stronger each day.
41. Caught in the Net of Matrimony
Meaning: Being fully committed to marriage, sometimes unexpectedly.
In a Sentence: He found himself caught in the net of matrimony after a whirlwind romance, their marriage a joyful commitment that transformed his life in the best ways.
42. The Ties That Bind
Meaning: The commitments and love that hold a marriage together.
In a Sentence: The ties that bind their marriage were forged through years of shared experiences, their love and loyalty creating an unbreakable bond that weathered all trials.
43. Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve
Meaning: To openly show love for your spouse.
In a Sentence: He wore his heart on his sleeve, showering his spouse with affection and praise, their marriage flourishing with the warmth of his open and devoted love.
44. A Labor of Love
Meaning: A marriage maintained through effort and care.
In a Sentence: Planning their dream home was a labor of love, their marriage strengthened by the shared effort to create a space that reflected their dreams and devotion.
45. In the Same Boat
Meaning: Facing marital challenges together as a team.
In a Sentence: When financial struggles hit, they were in the same boat, their marriage growing stronger as they tackled the challenge together with unity and determination.
46. The Other Half
Meaning: A loving term for one’s spouse.
In a Sentence: She referred to her husband as her other half, their marriage a partnership where each completed the other, creating a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
47. Hitch Up
Meaning: To get married, often informally.
In a Sentence: They hitched up in a rustic barn wedding, their marriage beginning with a celebration that reflected their down-to-earth love and commitment to each other.
48. Marriage of Convenience
Meaning: A marriage for practical rather than romantic reasons.
In a Sentence: Their marriage of convenience began for financial stability, but over time, their genuine care for each other transformed it into a loving and fulfilling partnership.
49. Fall Out of Love
Meaning: To lose romantic feelings in a marriage.
In a Sentence: When they felt themselves falling out of love, they sought counseling, their marriage revitalized through effort and a renewed commitment to rekindle their spark.
50. Make It Work
Meaning: To put effort into improving or sustaining a marriage.
In a Sentence: Despite their busy schedules, they made it work, their marriage thriving through dedicated time together and a shared determination to prioritize their love.
51. Partners in Crime
Meaning: A playful term for a couple who share adventures or mischief.
In a Sentence: They were partners in crime, their marriage filled with playful pranks and bold adventures that kept their love lively and their bond unbreakable.
52. Forever and a Day
Meaning: A marriage that lasts an eternity or beyond.
In a Sentence: They vowed to love each other forever and a day, their marriage a timeless commitment that promised to endure through every season of life with unwavering devotion.
53. Heart and Soul
Meaning: Giving everything to a marriage with full commitment.
In a Sentence: They poured their heart and soul into their marriage, building a life together with such love and dedication that their bond inspired everyone around them.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1: Tie the Knot
What does the idiom “Tie the knot” mean?
a) To end a relationship
b) To get married
c) To avoid commitment
d) To plan a party
Quiz 2: Pop the Question
What is the meaning of “Pop the question”?
a) To ask for a divorce
b) To propose marriage
c) To avoid marriage
d) To plan a wedding
Quiz 3: A Match Made in Heaven
When someone says, “A match made in heaven,” what are they emphasizing?
a) A troubled marriage
b) A perfect marital partnership
c) A temporary relationship
d) A difficult union
Quiz 4: Lovebirds
What does the idiom “Lovebirds” suggest?
a) A couple who argue often
b) A married couple who are openly affectionate
c) A couple who avoid each other
d) A single person
Quiz 5: On the Rocks
What situation is described by the idiom “On the rocks”?
a) A happy marriage
b) A marriage experiencing serious difficulties
c) A new marriage
d) A stable relationship
Quiz 6: Better Half
If someone calls their spouse their “better half,” what does it mean?
a) They are inferior
b) They are a loving complement who completes them
c) They are temporary
d) They are competitive
Quiz 7: Till Death Do Us Part
What does the expression “Till death do us part” imply?
a) A short-term commitment
b) A vow of lifelong commitment in marriage
c) A casual relationship
d) A conditional promise
Quiz 8: Made for Each Other
When is it appropriate to say, “Made for each other”?
a) When a couple is incompatible
b) When a couple is perfectly suited for marriage
c) When a couple is arguing
d) When a couple is single
Quiz 9: Soulmate
What is the meaning of “Soulmate”?
a) A casual friend
b) A spouse ideally suited to you in marriage
c) A rival
d) A temporary partner
Quiz 10: Love Conquers All
When someone says “Love conquers all,” what are they suggesting?
a) Love creates problems
b) Love can overcome any marital obstacle
c) Love is unimportant
d) Love causes conflict
Answers:
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
Conclusion
Idioms for marriage are like love letters that capture the beauty, challenges, and joy of wedded life, making conversations about partnership more heartfelt and evocative. Whether you’re describing a match made in heaven, keeping the flame alive, or weathering the storm together, these expressions add warmth and wisdom to discussions about the journey of marriage. So, the next time you’re sharing stories of love or reflecting on the bonds of matrimony, weave in a few of these idioms to make your words as enduring and meaningful as the marriages they celebrate!