Marriage is when two people decide to spend their lives together. It is a big part of many people’s lives. Over time, people have come up with different sayings, or idioms, to talk about marriage. These idioms make language more colorful and help explain feelings or situations in a short way.
In this article, we will look at some common idioms related to marriage. You will learn what they mean and how they are used in real life. These idioms may sound strange at first, but once you understand them, they are easy to remember and fun to use.
Idioms for Marriage
1. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married.
Sample Sentences: They decided to tie the knot after dating for three years. / My aunt and uncle tied the knot last summer.
Other Way to Say: Get married / Say “I do”
2. Walk down the aisle
Meaning: To get married in a wedding ceremony.
Sample Sentences: She felt nervous as she walked down the aisle. / Everyone watched when the bride walked down the aisle.
Other Way to Say: Get married / Join in marriage
3. Pop the question
Meaning: To ask someone to marry you.
Sample Sentences: He popped the question on their vacation. / She was surprised when he popped the question at dinner.
Other Way to Say: Propose / Ask for marriage
4. Get hitched
Meaning: To get married.
Sample Sentences: They are getting hitched next month. / My cousins got hitched last weekend.
Other Way to Say: Marry / Tie the knot
5. Better half
Meaning: A person’s husband or wife.
Sample Sentences: My better half is very kind. / She spent the day with her better half.
Other Way to Say: Spouse / Partner
6. Match made in heaven
Meaning: A perfect couple.
Sample Sentences: They are a match made in heaven. / Everyone says their marriage is a match made in heaven.
Other Way to Say: Perfect pair / Ideal couple
7. Jump the broom
Meaning: To get married (especially in some traditions).
Sample Sentences: They jumped the broom in a special ceremony. / Jumping the broom is part of their wedding tradition.
Other Way to Say: Get married / Tie the knot
8. Hit the sack
Meaning: To go to bed (sometimes after a wedding night).
Sample Sentences: After the party, they hit the sack. / The newlyweds hit the sack early.
Other Way to Say: Go to bed / Sleep
9. Wear the pants
Meaning: To be the one who makes decisions in a marriage.
Sample Sentences: In their house, she wears the pants. / He said his wife wears the pants in their family.
Other Way to Say: Be the boss / Lead the family
10. Tie the ribbon
Meaning: To get married (another way to say tie the knot).
Sample Sentences: They tied the ribbon in a small ceremony. / Everyone celebrated when they tied the ribbon.
Other Way to Say: Get married / Say “I do”
11. Shotgun wedding
Meaning: A wedding that happens quickly because of pregnancy.
Sample Sentences: They had a shotgun wedding after the surprise news. / It was a shotgun wedding, but they are happy.
Other Way to Say: Quick wedding / Hasty marriage
12. Walk of life
Meaning: Different kinds of people, including couples in marriage.
Sample Sentences: People from every walk of life get married. / Couples from all walks of life celebrated.
Other Way to Say: Background / Lifestyle
13. Lovebird
Meaning: A couple who is very much in love.
Sample Sentences: The lovebirds enjoyed their honeymoon. / Everyone says they are the cutest lovebirds.
Other Way to Say: Sweethearts / Lovers
14. Old flame
Meaning: A person you loved before, sometimes before marriage.
Sample Sentences: She ran into an old flame at the party. / Sometimes old flames come back.
Other Way to Say: Past love / Former sweetheart
15. Jump for joy
Meaning: To be very happy, like when you get married.
Sample Sentences: They jumped for joy after their wedding. / She jumped for joy when he said yes.
Other Way to Say: Be very happy / Celebrate
16. Tie the bond
Meaning: To make a strong connection, like in marriage.
Sample Sentences: They tied the bond of marriage last fall. / Marriage is about tying the bond forever.
Other Way to Say: Connect / Join together
17. On the rocks
Meaning: A marriage having problems.
Sample Sentences: Their marriage is on the rocks. / Sometimes couples go through times on the rocks.
Other Way to Say: In trouble / Struggling
18. Say “I do”
Meaning: To agree to marry someone.
Sample Sentences: They said “I do” in front of their families. / Everyone waited as they said “I do.”
Other Way to Say: Agree to marry / Exchange vows
19. Better half
Meaning: A person’s husband or wife.
Sample Sentences: He always talks about his better half. / My better half cooks dinner every night.
Other Way to Say: Spouse / Life partner
20. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married.
Sample Sentences: They plan to tie the knot next summer. / Many friends tied the knot last year.
Other Way to Say: Marry / Get hitched
21. Wedding bells
Meaning: The sound or sign of a wedding.
Sample Sentences: We heard wedding bells at the church. / Wedding bells will ring soon for them.
Other Way to Say: Marriage ceremony / Wedding time
22. Take the plunge
Meaning: To decide to get married.
Sample Sentences: They finally took the plunge and got married. / It’s a big step to take the plunge.
Other Way to Say: Make the decision / Commit
23. Better together
Meaning: A couple who works well as a team.
Sample Sentences: They are better together than apart. / Everyone agrees they are better together.
Other Way to Say: Perfect team / Strong pair
24. Hitched for life
Meaning: Married forever.
Sample Sentences: They got hitched for life in a small ceremony. / Being hitched for life means staying loyal.
Other Way to Say: Married forever / Life partners
25. Marriage license
Meaning: The official paper that lets two people get married.
Sample Sentences: They got their marriage license before the wedding. / You need a marriage license to get married legally.
Other Way to Say: Wedding permit / Marriage certificate
26. Walk into married life
Meaning: To start living as a married couple.
Sample Sentences: They walked into married life with big smiles. / Married life brings new adventures.
Other Way to Say: Begin marriage / Start married life
27. Tied up in love
Meaning: To be happily married or in a relationship.
Sample Sentences: They are tied up in love after many years. / Being tied up in love feels nice.
Other Way to Say: In love / Committed
28. Jump the gun
Meaning: To do something too early, like getting married before ready.
Sample Sentences: They jumped the gun by getting married so fast. / Sometimes people jump the gun and regret it.
Other Way to Say: Act too soon / Rush
29. Walk together
Meaning: To live life side by side in marriage.
Sample Sentences: They will walk together through good times and bad. / Walking together means sharing life.
Other Way to Say: Live together / Be partners
30. Put a ring on it
Meaning: To get engaged or married by giving a ring.
Sample Sentences: He put a ring on it at the surprise party. / She was happy when he put a ring on it.
Other Way to Say: Propose / Get engaged
31. Join hands
Meaning: To get married or work together.
Sample Sentences: The couple joined hands in front of the crowd. / They joined hands to start their life together.
Other Way to Say: Get married / Unite
32. Marry in haste, repent at leisure
Meaning: If you marry too quickly, you might regret it later.
Sample Sentences: He learned that marry in haste, repent at leisure is true. / They rushed and now regret it; marry in haste, repent at leisure.
Other Way to Say: Don’t rush marriage / Think before marrying
33. Bridal party
Meaning: The group of friends and family with the bride and groom at the wedding.
Sample Sentences: The bridal party walked down the aisle together. / The bridal party helped the bride all day.
Other Way to Say: Wedding group / Wedding helpers
34. Honeymoon phase
Meaning: The happy time right after getting married.
Sample Sentences: They are still in the honeymoon phase. / The honeymoon phase is full of smiles and fun.
Other Way to Say: Early married happiness / New couple time
35. Wedding crashers
Meaning: People who come to a wedding without being invited.
Sample Sentences: Some wedding crashers showed up at the party. / The couple was surprised by wedding crashers.
Other Way to Say: Uninvited guests / Party crashers
36. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married.
Sample Sentences: After years of dating, they tied the knot. / We celebrated when they tied the knot.
Other Way to Say: Get married / Join in marriage
37. Love at first sight
Meaning: To fall in love immediately after seeing someone.
Sample Sentences: They felt love at first sight. / Many stories begin with love at first sight.
Other Way to Say: Instant love / Quick romance
38. Jump into marriage
Meaning: To marry quickly without much thought.
Sample Sentences: They jumped into marriage and now face challenges. / Sometimes people jump into marriage too soon.
Other Way to Say: Marry fast / Rush marriage
39. Save the date
Meaning: A notice to keep a day free for a wedding.
Sample Sentences: They sent save the date cards to friends. / We marked the calendar to save the date.
Other Way to Say: Wedding notice / Mark your calendar
40. Wedding vows
Meaning: The promises the couple makes to each other.
Sample Sentences: They wrote their own wedding vows. / Wedding vows are very important.
Other Way to Say: Marriage promises / Wedding promises
41. Hit the dance floor
Meaning: To start dancing, often at a wedding party.
Sample Sentences: Everyone hit the dance floor after dinner. / The bride and groom hit the dance floor first.
Other Way to Say: Start dancing / Dance at party
42. Bridal shower
Meaning: A party before the wedding for the bride.
Sample Sentences: The bridal shower was full of fun games. / Friends gave gifts at the bridal shower.
Other Way to Say: Pre-wedding party / Bride’s party
43. Say your “I dos”
Meaning: To say yes in a wedding ceremony.
Sample Sentences: They said their “I dos” in front of everyone. / Saying “I do” means you agree to marry.
Other Way to Say: Agree to marry / Take wedding vows
44. Ring bearer
Meaning: A child who carries the wedding rings.
Sample Sentences: The ring bearer walked down the aisle carefully. / Our nephew was the ring bearer.
Other Way to Say: Ring carrier / Wedding helper
45. Wedding reception
Meaning: The party after the wedding ceremony.
Sample Sentences: The wedding reception had lots of food and dancing. / They celebrated at the wedding reception.
Other Way to Say: Wedding party / Celebration
46. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married.
Sample Sentences: We cheered when they tied the knot. / They tied the knot on a sunny day.
Other Way to Say: Get married / Say “I do”
47. To be wed
Meaning: To get married.
Sample Sentences: They are to be wed next month. / Soon, the couple will be wed.
Other Way to Say: Get married / Marry
48. Walk as one
Meaning: To live together as a married couple.
Sample Sentences: They promised to walk as one for life. / Walking as one means sharing everything.
Other Way to Say: Be united / Live together
49. Marry young
Meaning: To get married at a young age.
Sample Sentences: Some people marry young and start families. / Marrying young is a big decision.
Other Way to Say: Wed early / Young marriage
50. Wedding planner
Meaning: A person who helps organize the wedding.
Sample Sentences: The wedding planner made sure everything was perfect. / They hired a wedding planner to help.
Other Way to Say: Event organizer / Wedding helper
51. Marry for love
Meaning: To get married because you love the person.
Sample Sentences: They chose to marry for love, not money. / Marrying for love is important to many people.
Other Way to Say: Love marriage / True love wedding
52. Say “I do”
Meaning: To agree to marry someone during the ceremony.
Sample Sentences: When asked, they both said “I do.” / Saying “I do” means you promise to stay married.
Other Way to Say: Agree to marry / Make a vow
53. Wedding cake
Meaning: The special cake served at a wedding.
Sample Sentences: The wedding cake was very tall and sweet. / Everyone loved the wedding cake.
Other Way to Say: Marriage cake / Celebration cake
54. Live happily ever after
Meaning: To be happy together after marriage.
Sample Sentences: They hope to live happily ever after. / Many stories end with happily ever after.
Other Way to Say: Be happy together / Stay joyful
55. Marriage counselor
Meaning: A person who helps couples with problems.
Sample Sentences: They saw a marriage counselor to talk things out. / Marriage counselors help couples understand each other.
Other Way to Say: Marriage helper / Relationship guide
Multiple Choice Questions: Idioms for Marriage
1. What does “tie the knot” mean?
A) Make a new friend
B) Get married
C) Take a trip
2. If someone is “walking down the aisle,” what are they doing?
A) Shopping for food
B) Going to school
C) Getting married
3. “Pop the question” means:
A) Ask someone to marry you
B) Blow up a balloon
C) Start an argument
4. What is a “blushing bride”?
A) A bride who is mad
B) A bride who is shy or excited
C) A bride who is dancing
5. “Lovebirds” are:
A) A pair of parrots
B) People in love
C) Friends who argue a lot
6. If you “say your vows,” what are you doing?
A) Singing a song
B) Making promises at your wedding
C) Telling a joke
7. What does “take the plunge” mean in marriage?
A) Jump in a pool
B) Take a risk on love
C) Learn to swim
8. A “wedding toast” is:
A) A piece of bread at a wedding
B) A speech to honor the couple
C) A song for the bride
9. What does “just married” tell us about a couple?
A) They are about to marry
B) They are newly married
C) They are married for years
10. “Say ‘I do’” means:
A) Say no
B) Say maybe
C) Agree to get married
11. If someone “joins hands in marriage,” they are:
A) Becoming friends
B) Getting married
C) Starting a business
12. A “match made in heaven” means:
A) A couple who argue often
B) A couple who live far apart
C) A couple who are perfect for each other
Answer Key
1. B) Get married
2. C) Getting married
3. A) Ask someone to marry you
4. B) A bride who is shy or excited
5. B) People in love
6. B) Making promises at your wedding
7. B) Take a risk on love
8. B) A speech to honor the couple
9. B) They are newly married
10. C) Agree to get married
11. B) Getting married
12. C) A couple who are perfect for each other
Scoring Guide
- 12 Correct Answers: Love Idiom Master!
- 8–11 Correct Answers: Well on your way to understanding love idioms.
- 4–7 Correct Answers: Room for improvement, but you’re getting there!
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s explore marriage idioms together and keep learning.
Conclusion
Marriage idioms help us talk about love and weddings in fun and simple ways. They are part of how people speak in everyday life, especially in stories, songs, and conversations. Learning these idioms can make your writing and speaking more interesting.
Now that you know what these idioms mean, you can understand them when others use them and even try using a few yourself. It’s a helpful way to grow your vocabulary while learning more about how people talk about love and marriage.
