Marriage is a significant milestone in many people’s lives. It’s a commitment to spend your life with someone you love.
These idioms use words and phrases that might not seem directly connected to weddings, but they convey deeper meanings about love and commitment.
Let’s explore some of these idioms for marriage in simple language.

What is an idiom for marriage?
An idiom for marriage is a phrase or expression that uses words related to weddings, commitment, or love to convey a particular meaning or idea.
These idioms often symbolize the union between two people and the promises they make to each other.
Let’s break down each idiom from the list and understand what it means, along with examples of how they can be used.
Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
---|---|---|
Tie the knot | To get married or enter into a marital union. | Sarah and John decided to tie the knot after years of dating. |
Jumping the broom | A historical wedding ritual symbolizing the start of married life. | In some cultures, couples used to symbolize their marriage by jumping over a broom. |
Tying the knot (again) | To marry someone, especially after being married before. | After their divorces, Lisa and Tom are tying the knot again, proving that love can have second chances. |
Taking the plunge | To commit to marriage or a significant decision with determination. | They are taking the plunge and getting married in a destination wedding. |
Settling down | To begin a stable and settled life with a partner, often through marriage. | After years of adventure, they decided it was time to settle down and start a family. |
Getting hitched | To get married informally or casually. | They got hitched in a small ceremony at the beach, surrounded by close friends. |
Walking down the aisle | The act of the bride walking to the altar during the wedding ceremony. | As Sarah walked down the aisle, her eyes locked with John’s, filled with anticipation. |
Popping the question | Proposing marriage to someone, typically involving an engagement ring. | He surprised her by popping the question during their romantic dinner by the lake. |
Getting spliced | A playful way of saying “getting married.” | “We’re getting spliced in Vegas!” they announced with excitement. |
Saying “I do” | The moment in a wedding ceremony when the couple expresses their willingness to marry. | With tears in their eyes, they each said, “I do,” sealing their commitment to one another. |
Love and cherish | A part of traditional marriage vows, signifying love and care for one’s spouse. | In their wedding vows, they promised to love and cherish each other forever. |
Getting wed | Another way to say “getting married.” | They are getting wed in a beautiful garden ceremony next month. |
Tying the matrimonial knot | Formally committing to marriage and the responsibilities it entails. | The couple looked radiant as they tied the matrimonial knot in front of family and friends. |
Becoming man and wife | The moment of transformation from being single to being married. | The wedding ceremony symbolized their journey from two individuals to becoming man and wife. |
Becoming husband and wife | The official beginning of the roles of husband and wife. | As they exchanged rings, they embraced the role of becoming husband and wife. |
Taking the marital vows | The promises made during a wedding ceremony to uphold the commitments of marriage. | They took the marital vows seriously, pledging to support each other through thick and thin. |
Taking the matrimonial plunge | Embarking on the journey of marriage with all its joys and challenges. | As they said their “I dos,” they knew they were taking the matrimonial plunge into a lifetime of love. |
Exchanging vows | The act of sharing promises and commitments with one’s spouse during the wedding. | The couple emotionally exchanged vows, expressing their deep love for each other. |
Taking the marital oath | Making a solemn promise to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of marriage. | When they took the marital oath, they vowed to be faithful and loyal to each other. |
Becoming a couple | The official status change from being single individuals to a couple united in marriage. | Their wedding day marked the beginning of their journey as a couple. |
Getting betrothed | The act of becoming formally engaged to be married. | They celebrated their getting betrothed with an intimate engagement party. |
Tying the marital bond | Symbolizing the act of creating a strong and unbreakable connection through marriage. | With the exchange of rings, they were tying the marital bond that would endure a lifetime. |
Joining in matrimony | The formal act of uniting two people in marriage. | The priest pronounced them husband and wife, signifying their joining in matrimony. |
Making it official | Completing the legal and social process of becoming married. | Filling out the marriage certificate was the final step in making it official. |
Entering into wedlock | The transition from single life to married life. | With their wedding vows, they were entering into wedlock and beginning a new chapter together. |
Getting joined in holy matrimony | Formalizing the sacred union of marriage. | The priest blessed the couple, and they became joined in holy matrimony. |
Sealing the deal | Finalizing the commitment to marry. | Their wedding ceremony was a way of sealing the deal, solidifying their love for each other. |
Marriage is like a partnership where two people sail together through the sea of life, navigating storms and enjoying calm waters side by side. For more comparisons to describe marriage, you can click on this link: Similes for marriage. And for a variety of metaphors related to marriage, you can explore this link: Metaphors for marriage.
Idioms for Marriage
1. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married or enter into a marital union.
In a Sentence: Sarah and John decided to tie the knot after years of dating.
2. Jumping the broom
Meaning: A historical wedding ritual symbolizing the start of married life.
In a Sentence: In some cultures, couples used to symbolize their marriage by jumping over a broom.
3. Tying the knot (again)
Meaning: To marry someone, especially after being married before.
In a Sentence: After their divorces, Lisa and Tom are tying the knot again, proving that love can have second chances.
4. Taking the plunge
Meaning: To commit to marriage or a significant decision with determination.
In a Sentence: They are taking the plunge and getting married in a destination wedding.
5. Settling down
Meaning: To begin a stable and settled life with a partner, often through marriage.
In a Sentence: After years of adventure, they decided it was time to settle down and start a family.
6. Getting hitched
Meaning: To get married informally or casually.
In a Sentence: They got hitched in a small ceremony at the beach, surrounded by close friends.
7. Walking down the aisle
Meaning: The act of the bride walking to the altar during the wedding ceremony.
In a Sentence: As Sarah walked down the aisle, her eyes locked with John’s, filled with anticipation.
8. Popping the question
Meaning: Proposing marriage to someone, typically involving an engagement ring.
In a Sentence: He surprised her by popping the question during their romantic dinner by the lake.
9. Getting spliced
Meaning: A playful way of saying “getting married.”
In a Sentence: “We’re getting spliced in Vegas!” they announced with excitement.
10. Saying “I do”
Meaning: The moment in a wedding ceremony when the couple expresses their willingness to marry.
In a Sentence: With tears in their eyes, they each said, “I do,” sealing their commitment to one another.
11. Love and cherish
Meaning: A part of traditional marriage vows, signifying love and care for one’s spouse.
In a Sentence: In their wedding vows, they promised to love and cherish each other forever.
12. Getting wed
Meaning: Another way to say “getting married.”
In a Sentence: They are getting wed in a beautiful garden ceremony next month.
13. Tying the matrimonial knot
Meaning: Formally committing to marriage and the responsibilities it entails.
In a Sentence: The couple looked radiant as they tied the matrimonial knot in front of family and friends.
14. Becoming man and wife
Meaning: The moment of transformation from being single to being married.
In a Sentence: The wedding ceremony symbolized their journey from two individuals to becoming man and wife.
15. Becoming husband and wife
Meaning: The official beginning of the roles of husband and wife.
In a Sentence: As they exchanged rings, they embraced the role of becoming husband and wife.
16. Taking the marital vows
Meaning: The promises made during a wedding ceremony to uphold the commitments of marriage.
In a Sentence: They took the marital vows seriously, pledging to support each other through thick and thin.
17. Taking the matrimonial plunge
Meaning: Embarking on the journey of marriage with all its joys and challenges.
In a Sentence: As they said their “I dos,” they knew they were taking the matrimonial plunge into a lifetime of love.
18. Exchanging vows
Meaning: The act of sharing promises and commitments with one’s spouse during the wedding.
In a Sentence: The couple emotionally exchanged vows, expressing their deep love for each other.
19. Taking the marital oath
Meaning: Making a solemn promise to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of marriage.
In a Sentence: When they took the marital oath, they vowed to be faithful and loyal to each other.
20. Becoming a couple
Meaning: The official status change from being single individuals to a couple united in marriage.
In a Sentence: Their wedding day marked the beginning of their journey as a couple.
21. Getting betrothed
Meaning: The act of becoming formally engaged to be married.
In a Sentence: They celebrated their getting betrothed with an intimate engagement party.
22. Tying the marital bond
Meaning: Symbolizing the act of creating a strong and unbreakable connection through marriage.
In a Sentence: With the exchange of rings, they were tying the marital bond that would endure a lifetime.
23. Joining in matrimony
Meaning: The formal act of uniting two people in marriage.
In a Sentence: The priest pronounced them husband and wife, signifying their joining in matrimony.
24. Making it official
Meaning: Completing the legal and social process of becoming married.
In a Sentence: Filling out the marriage certificate was the final step in making it official.
25. Entering into wedlock
Meaning: The transition from single life to married life.
In a Sentence: With their wedding vows, they were entering into wedlock and beginning a new chapter together.
26. Getting joined in holy matrimony
Meaning: Formalizing the sacred union of marriage.
In a Sentence: The priest blessed the couple, and they became joined in holy matrimony.
27. Sealing the deal
Meaning: Finalizing the commitment to marry.
In a Sentence: Their wedding ceremony was a way of sealing the deal, solidifying their love for each other.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Here are 10 quiz questions related to the idioms for marriage discussed in the article:
Quiz 1:
- What does the idiom “Tie the knot” mean?
- a) To untangle a rope
- b) To get married
- c) To go on a cruise
- d) To travel to a foreign country
Quiz 2:
- What does the expression “Jumping the broom” historically symbolize?
- a) The start of married life
- b) A traditional dance
- c) A gardening ritual
- d) A cooking technique
Quiz 3:
- Which idiom means “To commit to marriage or a significant decision with determination”?
- a) Taking the plunge
- b) Walking down the aisle
- c) Popping the question
- d) Getting spliced
Quiz 4:
- What does the phrase “Saying ‘I do’” represent in a wedding ceremony?
- a) The exchange of wedding gifts
- b) The first dance
- c) The moment of expressing willingness to marry
- d) The cutting of the wedding cake
Quiz 5:
- Which idiom is a part of traditional marriage vows, signifying love and care for one’s spouse?
- a) Getting hitched
- b) Love and cherish
- c) Walking down the aisle
- d) Making it official
Quiz 6:
- What is another way to say “getting married”?
- a) Settling down
- b) Becoming husband and wife
- c) Getting wed
- d) Taking the marital plunge
Quiz 7:
- Which idiom means “Formally committing to marriage and the responsibilities it entails”?
- a) Taking the matrimonial plunge
- b) Becoming a couple
- c) Tying the matrimonial knot
- d) Entering into wedlock
Quiz 8:
- What does “Exchanging vows” refer to in a wedding ceremony?
- a) Swapping wedding rings
- b) Sharing promises and commitments with one’s spouse
- c) Trading wedding gifts
- d) Sharing stories about the couple’s history
Quiz 9:
- What is the meaning of “Taking the marital oath”?
- a) Making a solemn promise to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of marriage
- b) Beginning a wedding with a toast
- c) Exchanging wedding vows
- d) Starting a new job
Quiz 10:
- Which idiom represents “The formal act of uniting two people in marriage”?
- a) Becoming man and wife
- b) Sealing the deal
- c) Joining in matrimony
- d) Tying the marital bond
Feel free to use these quiz questions to test your knowledge of idioms for marriage or share them with others for fun and learning!
Conclusion
Marriage idioms may use simple words, but they carry the weight of love, commitment, and partnership. Understanding these expressions can help you appreciate the significance of marriage in various cultures and languages.