Idioms are fun and colorful phrases that make our language more interesting. They don’t always mean exactly what the words say, but they help us express feelings and ideas in creative ways. Love-related idioms are especially powerful because they help us talk about one of the most complex emotions in a simple and fun way. These expressions are used in daily life, making them both useful and enjoyable to learn.
In this article, you’ll explore popular love idioms, their meanings, and how to use them in everyday situations. Let’s dive into the exciting world of love idioms!
1. Head over heels
Meaning: To be completely in love with someone.
In a Sentence: Ever since I met Alex, I’ve been head over heels in love with him.
Other Ways to Say: Madly in love, Totally smitten
2. Falling for someone
Meaning: To start to love someone.
In a Sentence: I never expected to fall for someone so quickly, but here I am.
Other Ways to Say: Developing feelings, Starting to love
3. Love at first sight
Meaning: To fall in love with someone as soon as you see them.
In a Sentence: It was love at first sight when I met her at the party.
Other Ways to Say: Instant attraction, Instant chemistry
4. The apple of my eye
Meaning: Someone you love very much.
In a Sentence: My daughter is the apple of my eye, and I would do anything for her.
Other Ways to Say: My darling, My sweetheart
5. My other half
Meaning: The person who completes you, your soulmate.
In a Sentence: He’s truly my other half, and I can’t imagine life without him.
Other Ways to Say: My soulmate, The love of my life
6. You’re the one
Meaning: The person who is perfect for you or your soulmate.
In a Sentence: When I look at you, I know you’re the one I’ve been waiting for.
Other Ways to Say: My perfect match, The person I’ve been searching for
7. In the mood for love
Meaning: Feeling romantic or ready to express love.
In a Sentence: After the amazing dinner, I was definitely in the mood for love.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling affectionate, Romantic mood
8. To be sweet on someone
Meaning: To have a crush on someone.
In a Sentence: I’ve been sweet on Sarah for months, but I’m too shy to ask her out.
Other Ways to Say: To have feelings for, To have a crush
9. Love birds
Meaning: Two people who are very much in love.
In a Sentence: Those two are like love birds; they’re always holding hands and whispering sweet things.
Other Ways to Say: A couple in love, A pair of lovers
10. A match made in heaven
Meaning: A perfect romantic couple.
In a Sentence: Jane and Mark are a match made in heaven; they complement each other perfectly.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect couple, A perfect fit
11. To steal someone’s heart
Meaning: To make someone fall in love with you.
In a Sentence: She stole my heart the moment we met, and I’ve been in love ever since.
Other Ways to Say: Win someone over, Make someone fall in love
12. Love is blind
Meaning: When you’re in love, you often overlook your partner’s flaws.
In a Sentence: Even though he’s not perfect, I think love is blind, and I love him for who he is.
Other Ways to Say: Love clouds your judgment, Love makes you overlook flaws
13. To be head over heels for someone
Meaning: To be deeply in love with someone.
In a Sentence: I’ve been head over heels for her since the first time we met.
Other Ways to Say: Madly in love, Completely smitten
14. To have a soft spot for someone
Meaning: To feel affection for someone.
In a Sentence: I have a soft spot for my best friend; I care about her more than anyone.
Other Ways to Say: To have affection for, To care deeply about
15. Love knows no bounds
Meaning: True love has no limits or conditions.
In a Sentence: We’ve been through so much together, and I believe that love knows no bounds.
Other Ways to Say: Love is limitless, True love has no boundaries
16. To sweep someone off their feet
Meaning: To make someone fall in love with you in a dramatic way.
In a Sentence: He swept me off my feet with his grand gesture and sweet words.
Other Ways to Say: Win someone’s heart, Charm someone
17. The one that got away
Meaning: The person you love but lost for one reason or another.
In a Sentence: I’ll always think about her as the one that got away.
Other Ways to Say: Lost love, Missed opportunity
18. To be completely smitten
Meaning: To be deeply in love or infatuated with someone.
In a Sentence: Ever since we went on that first date, I’ve been completely smitten with him.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply in love, Infatuated
19. To be a perfect match
Meaning: Two people who are perfectly suited to each other.
In a Sentence: They are a perfect match—they complement each other in every way.
Other Ways to Say: Ideal couple, Made for each other
20. To have a love affair
Meaning: To have a romantic or passionate relationship with someone.
In a Sentence: They had a secret love affair that lasted for years.
Other Ways to Say: Be in love with, Have a romance
21. To fall head over heels
Meaning: To fall deeply in love with someone.
In a Sentence: She fell head over heels for him the moment they met.
Other Ways to Say: Madly in love, Infatuated
22. To have a crush
Meaning: To have romantic feelings for someone, often unexpressed.
In a Sentence: I had a huge crush on him when we were in high school.
Other Ways to Say: Be infatuated with, Be taken with
23. To be crazy about someone
Meaning: To love someone very much, almost to the point of obsession.
In a Sentence: She’s completely crazy about her boyfriend and never stops talking about him.
Other Ways to Say: Adore someone, Be mad about someone
24. To fall in love with
Meaning: To develop romantic feelings for someone.
In a Sentence: I never expected to fall in love with someone like him.
Other Ways to Say: Become enamored with, Grow fond of
25. To fall for someone’s charms
Meaning: To be swept away by someone’s personality or attractiveness.
In a Sentence: He fell for her charms the moment she smiled at him.
Other Ways to Say: Be charmed by, Be captivated by
26. To be head over heels in love
Meaning: To be completely and utterly in love with someone.
In a Sentence: After a month of dating, they were already head over heels in love.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply in love, Completely smitten
27. To be hopelessly in love
Meaning: To love someone with no chance of them loving you back (or with strong emotion).
In a Sentence: He was hopelessly in love with her, despite knowing she was already in a relationship.
Other Ways to Say: Love unconditionally, Be madly in love
28. To have hearts in your eyes
Meaning: To look at someone with deep affection and admiration.
In a Sentence: Every time she looks at him, she has hearts in her eyes.
Other Ways to Say: Have a loving gaze, Look lovingly at someone
29. To be swept off your feet
Meaning: To be completely overwhelmed by love or admiration for someone.
In a Sentence: He swept her off her feet with his romantic proposal.
Other Ways to Say: Be carried away by love, Be charmed by someone
30. To be the light of my life
Meaning: Someone who brings joy and meaning to your life.
In a Sentence: My daughter is the light of my life—she makes everything better.
Other Ways to Say: My everything, My world
31. To fall for someone’s smile
Meaning: To be instantly attracted to someone because of their smile.
In a Sentence: I fell for her smile the moment I saw her across the room.
Other Ways to Say: Be smitten by someone’s charm, Be drawn to someone’s smile
32. To be madly in love
Meaning: To be intensely or passionately in love with someone.
In a Sentence: He was madly in love with her and couldn’t stop thinking about her.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply in love, Completely infatuated
33. To be in a relationship
Meaning: To be romantically involved with someone.
In a Sentence: After a few months of dating, they officially became a couple and were in a relationship.
Other Ways to Say: Be together, Be romantically involved
34. To be in love with the idea of someone
Meaning: To have romantic feelings for the idea of someone rather than the person themselves.
In a Sentence: She was in love with the idea of him, but not really who he was.
Other Ways to Say: Have a fantasy about someone, Be in love with the thought of someone
35. To have someone wrapped around your finger
Meaning: To have complete control over someone in a relationship.
In a Sentence: She has him wrapped around her finger and gets him to do anything she wants.
Other Ways to Say: Have someone at your beck and call, Control someone
36. To be in the honeymoon phase
Meaning: The period of time at the beginning of a relationship when everything feels perfect.
In a Sentence: They’re still in the honeymoon phase and can’t stop smiling at each other.
Other Ways to Say: Be in the early stages of love, Be in love’s early days
37. To be soulmates
Meaning: Two people who are perfectly suited for each other, often considered destined to be together.
In a Sentence: They believe they are soulmates, meant to be together forever.
Other Ways to Say: Be made for each other, Be perfect together
38. To be love-struck
Meaning: To be overwhelmed or overcome by feelings of love.
In a Sentence: He was love-struck the moment he laid eyes on her.
Other Ways to Say: Be infatuated, Be captivated by love
39. To be star-crossed lovers
Meaning: Two people who are in love but doomed to be separated by circumstances.
In a Sentence: Their love story is tragic, like that of star-crossed lovers.
Other Ways to Say: Be fated to fail, Be doomed to be apart
40. To tie the knot
Meaning: To get married.
In a Sentence: They decided to tie the knot after five years of dating.
Other Ways to Say: Get married, Walk down the aisle
41. To propose marriage
Meaning: To ask someone to marry you.
In a Sentence: After two years of dating, he proposed marriage with a beautiful ring.
Other Ways to Say: Pop the question, Ask for someone’s hand in marriage
42. To be in love with someone’s personality
Meaning: To be attracted to someone’s character rather than their looks.
In a Sentence: I’m in love with her personality—she’s kind, funny, and smart.
Other Ways to Say: Love someone for who they are, Be attracted to someone’s character
43. To be a match made in heaven
Meaning: A perfect couple who are well-suited for each other.
In a Sentence: They’ve been through so much together, and they are truly a match made in heaven.
Other Ways to Say: A perfect fit, The ideal couple
44. To be head over heels for someone
Meaning: To be completely in love with someone.
In a Sentence: Ever since we met, I’ve been head over heels for him.
Other Ways to Say: Madly in love, Completely in love
45. To be lovey-dovey
Meaning: To be overly affectionate in public.
In a Sentence: They were so lovey-dovey, holding hands and sharing sweet words in front of everyone.
Other Ways to Say: Publicly affectionate, All over each other
46. To have a heart of gold
Meaning: To be a kind and loving person.
In a Sentence: She has a heart of gold, always caring for others and showing love.
Other Ways to Say: Be warm-hearted, Be kind-hearted
47. To be in deep like
Meaning: To be very fond of someone, though not yet in love.
In a Sentence: I think I’m in deep like with him, but I’m not sure if it’s love yet.
Other Ways to Say: Have a strong affection for, Be very fond of
48. To be struck by Cupid’s arrow
Meaning: To fall suddenly and unexpectedly in love.
In a Sentence: I wasn’t expecting to fall in love, but then I was struck by Cupid’s arrow when I met her.
Other Ways to Say: Be love-struck, Be hit by love
49. To be infatuated with someone
Meaning: To have a strong but short-lived passion for someone.
In a Sentence: He’s completely infatuated with her, but I’m not sure if it will last.
Other Ways to Say: Be in love with, Be obsessed with
50. To be love-struck
Meaning: To be overwhelmed by feelings of love or affection.
In a Sentence: He was so love-struck, he couldn’t stop smiling every time she looked at him.
Other Ways to Say: Be smitten, Be overwhelmed by love
51. To be married to someone
Meaning: To be in a legal, romantic relationship with someone.
In a Sentence: After ten years of marriage, they’re still as in love as ever.
Other Ways to Say: Be husband and wife, Be tied in matrimony
52. To be swept away by love
Meaning: To be overcome by emotions of love.
In a Sentence: She was swept away by love when he took her to Paris for a surprise proposal.
Other Ways to Say: Be carried away, Be overwhelmed by love
53. To have love on the brain
Meaning: To constantly think about someone you are in love with.
In a Sentence: He has love on the brain and can’t stop thinking about her every minute of the day.
Other Ways to Say: Be infatuated, Be preoccupied with someone
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks using the love idioms:
- I’ve been _______ for weeks now, and I can’t stop thinking about him.
- After years of dating, they’re finally _______ and have a big wedding planned.
- They were both _______, constantly looking into each other’s eyes and smiling.
- The moment he smiled at her, she was _______ and couldn’t stop blushing.
- It wasn’t love at first sight, but over time, they became _______ for each other.
- She was so _______ by his romantic gesture that she couldn’t speak.
- After their first date, he was _______ with her smile.
- They decided to take the next step and officially became _______ after two years of dating.
Answers:
in deep like, married to someone, lovey-dovey, swept away by love, head over heels, struck by Cupid’s arrow, smitten, husband and wife
Conclusion
Love idioms offer a playful and meaningful way to express affection, admiration, and deep feelings. Whether you’re just starting a relationship or have been in love for years, these expressions bring a creative touch to your everyday conversations. Keep practicing them, and soon they’ll become second nature.
Now that you know these 53 love idioms, you’ll be able to add color to your language and share your feelings in more imaginative ways. Remember, love may be complex, but these idioms help you communicate it in a fun, clear, and memorable way!