Marriage is a lifelong partnership, a journey where two people grow together, face challenges, and build a world that reflects their shared love, values, and dreams. It’s not always smooth, and it definitely isn’t always easy, but with patience, humor, and commitment, marriage becomes a beautiful mix of ordinary routines and unforgettable moments.
To describe such a deep and multi-layered bond, we often use idioms—expressive phrases that bring color and character to our conversations. These idioms about marriage capture the reality of living together, loving through life’s highs and lows, and finding strength in shared laughter and tears. In this post, we’ll explore 47 marriage-related idioms, their meanings, and how you can use them in real-life conversations.
Let’s begin with idioms that show the joy, quirks, and truths about married life.
Idioms for Marriage
1. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married or enter into a marital union.
In a Sentence: After years of traveling the world hand-in-hand and building a life filled with shared dreams, laughter, and late-night talks, they finally tied the knot in a quiet, lakeside ceremony surrounded by friends and family.
Other Ways to Say: Get hitched, Say “I do”
2. Walk down the aisle
Meaning: To take part in a wedding ceremony.
In a Sentence: With her heart pounding, eyes sparkling, and a smile that reached from ear to ear, she walked down the aisle to the love of her life, ready to start forever together.
Other Ways to Say: Get married, Join in matrimony
3. Ball and chain
Meaning: A humorous or sarcastic way to refer to one’s spouse, especially suggesting limitation or responsibility.
In a Sentence: He jokingly referred to his wife as the ball and chain at work parties, but behind that humor was a man who adored her deeply and couldn’t imagine life without her.
Other Ways to Say: Old ball and chain, My better half (playful)
4. Match made in heaven
Meaning: Two people who are perfectly suited for one another.
In a Sentence: From the moment they met, it was clear to everyone around them that they were a match made in heaven, with personalities that complemented each other like peanut butter and jelly.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect pair, Soulmates
5. Hitched for life
Meaning: Committed to staying married forever.
In a Sentence: They weren’t just planning a wedding; they were getting hitched for life, promising to love each other through every adventure, storm, and Sunday morning coffee.
Other Ways to Say: Lifelong partners, Joined forever
6. In wedded bliss
Meaning: Living happily together in marriage.
In a Sentence: They spent their honeymoon exploring small towns and laughing over street food, the perfect start to what would be years of wedded bliss, built on simple joys and mutual respect.
Other Ways to Say: Happily married, Enjoying married life
7. Tie the marital rope
Meaning: To become legally and emotionally joined in marriage.
In a Sentence: After a decade of ups, downs, and unforgettable adventures, they decided it was time to tie the marital rope and make their love official in front of everyone they hold dear.
Other Ways to Say: Join as one, Unite in matrimony
8. Old married couple
Meaning: A couple who behaves like they’ve been married forever, even if they’re not.
In a Sentence: Though they had only been together for a few months, their constant banter, cozy routines, and knowing glances made them seem like an old married couple who had been side by side for decades.
Other Ways to Say: Domestic duo, Familiar pair
9. Wear the pants in the relationship
Meaning: To be the one who has more authority or control in the marriage.
In a Sentence: While they shared responsibilities fairly, it was obvious to everyone that she wore the pants in the relationship, setting the plans and solving problems with ease and charm.
Other Ways to Say: Be in charge, Call the shots
10. Happy wife, happy life
Meaning: Keeping one’s wife content leads to peace and happiness in the home.
In a Sentence: He learned over the years that the key to a peaceful, laughter-filled home was simple: happy wife, happy life, and he happily embraced that wisdom every single day.
Other Ways to Say: Keep her smiling, Home harmony
11. Joined at the hip
Meaning: Extremely close, spending nearly all their time together.
In a Sentence: Ever since they got married, they’ve been joined at the hip, whether it’s running errands, going to work events, or just curled up on the couch watching their favorite shows.
Other Ways to Say: Inseparable, Constant companions
12. Two become one
Meaning: The symbolic uniting of two individuals in marriage.
In a Sentence: Their wedding was filled with meaningful moments, but the most powerful of all was the vow that two become one, not just in name but in heart, goals, and life’s journey.
Other Ways to Say: United together, One heart, one path
13. Marriage is no bed of roses
Meaning: Marriage can be difficult and is not always pleasant.
In a Sentence: They often laugh that their love story is more of a rollercoaster than a fairytale, because marriage is no bed of roses—it’s about sticking together even when the thorns show.
Other Ways to Say: Not always easy, Full of real-life struggles
14. Grow old together
Meaning: To stay married for a lifetime until old age.
In a Sentence: Since their very first date at a tiny corner café, they’d dreamed of growing old together, sipping tea on their porch with wrinkled hands still clasped tightly.
Other Ways to Say: Stay together forever, Lifelong love story
15. Hit a rough patch
Meaning: To experience a difficult period in a relationship.
In a Sentence: They hit a rough patch during the early years of their marriage, but with deep conversations, forgiveness, and shared goals, they found their way back to each other’s arms.
Other Ways to Say: Face difficulties, Go through turbulence
16. Love is blind
Meaning: When someone is in love, they may overlook flaws or imperfections.
In a Sentence: Even though their friends pointed out differences, they proved that love is blind by embracing each other’s quirks and seeing only the beauty in their bond.
Other Ways to Say: Love overlooks flaws, Heart sees no faults
17. Put a ring on it
Meaning: To propose or marry someone, showing commitment.
In a Sentence: After years of dating, traveling, and growing together, he finally decided it was time to put a ring on it and start the next chapter of their love story.
Other Ways to Say: Propose, Seal the deal
18. Settle down
Meaning: To start a stable life, usually involving marriage and family.
In a Sentence: They traveled the world and chased wild dreams, but eventually they were ready to settle down in a cozy home filled with laughter, plants, and shared memories.
Other Ways to Say: Build a life together, Start a home
19. The old ball and chain
Meaning: A humorous way to refer to a spouse, often implying responsibility.
In a Sentence: He called her the old ball and chain with a teasing grin, but his eyes gave away the truth—he wouldn’t want to go through life with anyone else.
Other Ways to Say: The missus, Life partner (playful tone)
20. Cross to bear
Meaning: A burden or responsibility one must carry in marriage.
In a Sentence: When things got tough, she reminded herself that every relationship has a cross to bear, and theirs was worth every bit of effort and patience.
Other Ways to Say: Duty to carry, Challenge to face
21. Wedding bells are ringing
Meaning: A phrase used to suggest someone is about to get married.
In a Sentence: When he bought flowers for no reason and started acting nervously around her parents, everyone knew wedding bells were ringing soon.
Other Ways to Say: Marriage is coming, A proposal is near
22. On the rocks
Meaning: A relationship or marriage going through serious trouble.
In a Sentence: Their marriage was on the rocks after months of silent dinners and heavy hearts, but counseling and honest conversations helped rebuild the trust they once had.
Other Ways to Say: In trouble, Struggling
23. Keep the spark alive
Meaning: To maintain passion and excitement in a marriage.
In a Sentence: They made a point to keep the spark alive by writing notes to each other, planning small surprises, and never forgetting to say “I love you” before bed.
Other Ways to Say: Stay connected, Keep romance strong
24. Lovebirds
Meaning: A couple who are very affectionate and romantic.
In a Sentence: Watching them giggle over coffee and share inside jokes made it obvious that these two lovebirds were head over heels in love.
Other Ways to Say: Sweethearts, Romantically close couple
25. Say “I do”
Meaning: To agree to marry someone in a wedding ceremony.
In a Sentence: Surrounded by flowers, family, and happy tears, they each said “I do” with trembling voices and hearts full of joy.
Other Ways to Say: Exchange vows, Accept in marriage
26. Break up the honeymoon
Meaning: To interrupt the newlywed period of peace and romance.
In a Sentence: They were enjoying their first weeks of married life, but a sudden family emergency broke up the honeymoon and brought reality rushing in.
Other Ways to Say: End the good times early, Bring back stress
27. For better or worse
Meaning: A vow meaning staying together through good and bad times.
In a Sentence: They held hands and reminded each other that they had promised to stay together for better or worse, and this challenge would only make their bond stronger.
Other Ways to Say: Through thick and thin, No matter what
28. Stormy weather
Meaning: Trouble or conflict in the relationship.
In a Sentence: Every marriage faces some stormy weather, and theirs was no different—but with love and forgiveness, they always found sunshine after the storm.
Other Ways to Say: Turbulent times, Emotional conflict
29. Love-hate relationship
Meaning: A relationship with mixed feelings, both affection and frustration.
In a Sentence: Their love-hate relationship was full of intense debates and passionate make-ups, but it somehow worked because they respected each other’s fire.
Other Ways to Say: Push and pull dynamic, Intense connection
30. Locking lips
Meaning: Kissing, especially romantically.
In a Sentence: Whether they were saying hello or goodbye, locking lips had become their quiet way of saying “you matter to me” without words.
Other Ways to Say: Share a kiss, Exchange affection
31. Get cold feet
Meaning: To become nervous or uncertain about getting married.
In a Sentence: The night before the wedding, he got cold feet and questioned everything, but one look at her smile the next morning reminded him why he fell in love.
Other Ways to Say: Feel unsure, Panic before commitment
32. Tie the family knot
Meaning: To become part of a family through marriage.
In a Sentence: When they exchanged vows, she didn’t just marry him—she tied the family knot and became a cherished member of his entire circle, from siblings to grandparents.
Other Ways to Say: Join the family, Become one with the in-laws
33. Wedding jitters
Meaning: Feelings of nervousness before the wedding.
In a Sentence: She had all the wedding jitters that morning—cold hands, teary eyes, and a stomach full of butterflies—but the moment she saw him, everything felt right.
Other Ways to Say: Pre-wedding nerves, Bride/groom anxiety
34. Set in stone
Meaning: Something permanent or unlikely to change, like a strong marriage.
In a Sentence: Their commitment was set in stone from the start, built on a deep friendship, endless patience, and a love that had already weathered many storms.
Other Ways to Say: Unshakable, Firmly established
35. Wedded to the idea
Meaning: Fully committed or strongly attached to a belief or plan.
In a Sentence: He was wedded to the idea that a strong marriage is built not just on love, but on shared routines, respect, and growing together.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply committed, Emotionally invested
36. Marital bliss
Meaning: Deep happiness found in marriage.
In a Sentence: After years of growing together, navigating chaos, and learning each other’s rhythms, they found a quiet kind of marital bliss in the everyday things—cooking, laughing, and just being together.
Other Ways to Say: Domestic happiness, Joy in togetherness
37. A household name
Meaning: A name known by many, often referring to a couple who’s well-known.
In a Sentence: Their love story became a household name in their small town, admired for its sweetness and the way they supported each other through everything.
Other Ways to Say: Well-known couple, Community favorite
38. Take the plunge
Meaning: To decide to get married.
In a Sentence: After years of hesitation and “what-ifs,” they finally took the plunge, deciding that life together, no matter how unpredictable, was better than apart.
Other Ways to Say: Say yes to marriage, Leap into commitment
39. Love and cherish
Meaning: A common wedding vow meaning to deeply care for one another.
In a Sentence: Their promise to love and cherish was not just for the ceremony—it echoed in daily kindness, inside jokes, and unwavering support.
Other Ways to Say: Hold dear, Care deeply
40. Hitched at the hip
Meaning: Always together after marriage, close in both physical and emotional ways.
In a Sentence: From grocery runs to late-night talks, they’ve been hitched at the hip ever since their wedding, always choosing each other first.
Other Ways to Say: Always together, Side-by-side forever
41. Sleep on the couch
Meaning: A humorous way to say one partner is in trouble in the relationship.
In a Sentence: After forgetting their anniversary dinner, he found himself sleeping on the couch, a lighthearted reminder that small things do matter.
Other Ways to Say: Be in trouble, Face playful consequences
42. A partner for life
Meaning: A spouse or lifelong companion.
In a Sentence: Through job changes, health scares, and everything in between, she remained his partner for life—his anchor, cheerleader, and best friend.
Other Ways to Say: Lifelong companion, Soul partner
43. Talk things out
Meaning: To resolve problems through open communication.
In a Sentence: Instead of letting arguments pile up, they always made time to talk things out, believing that communication was the backbone of a lasting marriage.
Other Ways to Say: Discuss openly, Work through issues
44. Love conquers all
Meaning: Love can overcome any obstacle or hardship.
In a Sentence: Despite long distances, financial strain, and unexpected setbacks, their journey proved that love conquers all when you don’t give up.
Other Ways to Say: Love wins, Love overcomes
45. To have and to hold
Meaning: A traditional phrase in wedding vows symbolizing commitment.
In a Sentence: When he whispered “to have and to hold” at their wedding, he meant it deeply, promising to be present, tender, and true in all seasons of life.
Other Ways to Say: To stay by your side, To support forever
46. The honeymoon phase
Meaning: The early stage of marriage when everything feels perfect and exciting.
In a Sentence: The honeymoon phase filled their home with constant joy, silly surprises, and endless affection, but what lasted longer was their steady love and daily appreciation.
Other Ways to Say: Early love stage, Freshlywed bliss
47. Till death do us part
Meaning: A vow expressing lifelong commitment until one’s death.
In a Sentence: They meant it when they said “till death do us part,” knowing that their love story would be written in both the big moments and the quiet, ordinary days.
Other Ways to Say: Forever together, Life until the end
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct idioms:
- After six years of dating, they decided it was time to __________ and plan their wedding.
- When he panicked the night before the wedding, she reminded him that getting __________ was totally normal.
- Their marriage faced some serious issues, and friends were worried it was __________.
- Even after thirty years of marriage, they still managed to __________ by planning surprise dates and weekend getaways.
- He made a small joke at the wrong moment and ended up __________ for the night.
- They’re practically __________, always together and finishing each other’s sentences.
- They believed that __________ would carry them through any argument or misunderstanding.
- Every time they had a disagreement, they would calmly __________ and find a solution.
- Their relationship was so natural and affectionate that people called them true __________.
- During the vows, he held her hands and said, “To __________ and to hold.”
Answers:
take the plunge, wedding jitters, on the rocks, keep the spark alive, sleeping on the couch, hitched at the hip, love conquers all, talk things out, lovebirds, have
Conclusion
Marriage is a tapestry woven with commitment, compromise, and care—an ongoing story full of lessons, laughter, and love. The idioms we use to describe marriage help capture all those tiny moments and emotions that can be hard to explain with plain language.
So whether you’re in the honeymoon phase, talking things out after a rough patch, or simply trying to keep the spark alive on a regular Tuesday, these idioms bring a little more heart and humor into the language of love. Keep using them in your daily conversations, wedding speeches, or even just when sharing your relationship journey with others. Because in the end, every love story deserves words that truly fit.