Relationship Idioms (With Meaning and Examples)

Welcome! Today, we’re going to learn about phrases called “idioms.” Idioms are special expressions where the words don’t mean exactly what they say. They’re like secret codes in language that you have to learn!

Relationship Idioms

Here are 20 relationship idioms in English with meaning and example sentence for each.

Tie the knot

Meaning: Get married
Example: They decided to tie the knot next summer.

Break the ice

Meaning: Start a conversation
Example: He used a joke to break the ice at the party.

On the rocks

Meaning: Having relationship problems
Example: Their marriage is on the rocks lately.

Kiss and make up

Meaning: Resolve a fight and reconcile
Example: After arguing, they decided to kiss and make up.

Play the field

Meaning: Date multiple people
Example: He’s not ready to settle down; he’s still playing the field.

Pop the question

Meaning: Propose marriage
Example: He’s planning to pop the question tonight.

Mend fences

Meaning: Improve strained relationships
Example: It’s time we mend fences with the neighbors.

Go Dutch

Meaning: Split the bill
Example: They decided to go Dutch on their first date.

Give someone the cold shoulder

Meaning: Ignore someone
Example: She gave him the cold shoulder all evening.

Steal someone’s heart

Meaning: Make someone fall in love
Example: The new actor stole everyone’s heart in that film.

Wear your heart on your sleeve

Meaning: Openly show emotions
Example: He always wears his heart on his sleeve.

Walk on eggshells

Meaning: Be very careful not to upset someone
Example: She walks on eggshells around him.

Make up

Meaning: Reconcile after a fight
Example: They always make up quickly after arguing.

Stand by someone

Meaning: Support, remain loyal
Example: She will always stand by her brother.

Fall out

Meaning: Stop being friends
Example: They fell out over a silly misunderstanding.

Patch things up

Meaning: Repair a relationship
Example: They patched things up after talking.

Have a thing

Meaning: Have a romantic relationship
Example: They have a thing going on lately.

Love at first sight

Meaning: Instantly fall in love
Example: It was love at first sight when they met.

Drift apart

Meaning: Gradually become less close
Example: As years passed, they slowly drifted apart.

Back someone up

Meaning: Support someone
Example: You need friends who will back you up in tough times.

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Adjectives for Relationships

Relationship Idioms