Idioms for Relationships: Expressing Connection in English

Understanding idioms related to relationships is crucial for mastering English, as they add color and depth to everyday conversations. These expressions offer a nuanced way to describe the complexities of human connections, whether romantic, platonic, or familial.

This article will explore a wide range of idioms used to discuss relationships, their meanings, and how to use them correctly. This guide is perfect for English language learners of all levels who want to improve their fluency and comprehension, as well as native speakers looking to refine their understanding of idiomatic expressions.

By the end of this guide, you will not only recognize these idioms but also confidently use them in your own speech and writing. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of relationship idioms!

Table of Contents

• Definition of Relationship Idioms
• Structural Breakdown of Idioms
• Types and Categories of Relationship Idioms
• Examples of Relationship Idioms
• Usage Rules for Relationship Idioms
• Common Mistakes with Relationship Idioms
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics in Relationship Idioms
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Definition of Relationship Idioms

Relationship idioms are expressions where the overall meaning cannot be derived directly from the literal meanings of the individual words. Instead, they convey a figurative or symbolic meaning related to the nature, status, or dynamics of interpersonal relationships.

Understanding these idioms is essential for grasping the subtle nuances of communication about relationships.

Idioms, in general, are a type of figurative language that native speakers use effortlessly, but can be challenging for English language learners. They often reflect cultural values and historical contexts, making them particularly interesting to study.

Relationship idioms specifically focus on how people interact, connect, and navigate their bonds with others.

The function of relationship idioms is to provide a concise and evocative way to describe complex emotions and situations. They can be used to express affection, conflict, stability, or change within a relationship. The context in which these idioms are used is crucial, as the same idiom can have slightly different connotations depending on the situation and the relationship being discussed.

Structural Breakdown of Idioms

Idioms don’t adhere to standard grammatical rules. Their structure is fixed, meaning you can’t usually change the words or their order without altering or losing the idiom’s meaning.

This fixed nature is one of the key characteristics that distinguishes idioms from regular phrases.

Most relationship idioms consist of a combination of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and prepositions. The specific combination creates a unique meaning that goes beyond the literal interpretation of the individual words.

For example, “to tie the knot” uses a verb and a noun to represent the act of getting married.

Understanding the individual components of an idiom doesn’t necessarily lead to understanding the idiom itself. The meaning is often derived from cultural or historical references that are not immediately obvious.

Therefore, learning idioms requires memorization and contextual understanding.

Types and Categories of Relationship Idioms

Relationship idioms can be categorized based on the type of relationship they describe or the aspect of the relationship they highlight. Here are some common categories:

Idioms Describing Romantic Relationships

These idioms are used to talk about love, dating, marriage, and other aspects of romantic partnerships. They often express feelings of affection, commitment, or conflict.

Idioms Describing Familial Relationships

These idioms focus on bonds within families, such as parents and children, siblings, and extended family members. They can describe closeness, conflict, or shared history.

Idioms Describing Friendships

These idioms are used to talk about platonic relationships between friends. They often highlight loyalty, support, and shared experiences.

Idioms Describing Relationship Status

These idioms describe the current state of a relationship, such as being single, dating, engaged, married, or divorced.

Idioms Describing Relationship Problems

These idioms are used when discussing difficulties, disagreements, or conflicts within a relationship.

Examples of Relationship Idioms

The following tables provide a comprehensive list of relationship idioms, categorized for easier understanding. Each table includes the idiom, its meaning, and example sentences to illustrate its usage.

Table 1: Idioms Describing Romantic Relationships

This table showcases idioms commonly used to describe various aspects of romantic relationships. Understanding these expressions can help you better grasp the nuances of love and partnership in English.

Idiom	Meaning	Example Sentence
Head over heels	Deeply in love	They fell head over heels for each other on their first date.
Tie the knot	Get married	After dating for five years, they decided to tie the knot.
Pop the question	Propose marriage	He’s planning to pop the question on their anniversary.
Lovey-dovey	Excessively affectionate	They’re always lovey-dovey in public, which can be a bit much.
A match made in heaven	A perfectly compatible couple	Everyone says they’re a match made in heaven.
On the rocks	Experiencing difficulties (relationship)	Their marriage has been on the rocks for a while now.
To have a crush on someone	To be infatuated with someone	She has a crush on her classmate.
To be an item	To be in a romantic relationship	They’ve been an item since last summer.
To go steady	To date someone exclusively	They decided to go steady after a few dates.
To lead someone on	To mislead someone into thinking you’re interested	He was leading her on, even though he wasn’t serious.
To have the hots for someone	To be sexually attracted to someone	He clearly has the hots for the new girl at work.
To be smitten with someone	To be completely charmed or captivated by someone	He’s completely smitten with his girlfriend.
To be someone’s other half	To be someone’s partner or spouse	She’s truly his other half.
To drift apart	To gradually become less close	Over the years, they drifted apart due to different interests.
To patch things up	To resolve a disagreement and restore a relationship	They’re trying to patch things up after their argument.
To wear the pants in the relationship	To be the dominant partner in a relationship	Everyone knows she wears the pants in their relationship.
To be tied to someone’s apron strings	To be overly dependent on someone (usually a mother)	He’s still tied to his mother’s apron strings.
To spoon	To cuddle closely	They like to spoon while watching movies.
To make eyes at someone	To flirt with someone using glances	He was making eyes at her across the room.
To be on the same wavelength	To understand each other well	They are always on the same wavelength, that’s why they get along so well.
To have a soft spot for someone	To feel affection for someone	He always had a soft spot for her, even after they broke up.
To two-time someone	To cheat on someone	She found out he was two-timing her with his ex-girlfriend.
To get hitched	To get married (informal)	They decided to get hitched in a small ceremony.
To have a bun in the oven	To be pregnant	They’re excited to announce they have a bun in the oven.

Table 2: Idioms Describing Familial Relationships

This table provides idioms that describe different aspects of family relationships, including bonds between parents and children, siblings, and extended family members. These idioms often convey feelings of love, obligation, or conflict.

Idiom	Meaning	Example Sentence
Like father, like son	Sons tend to resemble their fathers in character	He became a doctor, like father, like son.
Blood is thicker than water	Family bonds are stronger than other relationships	Despite their disagreements, blood is thicker than water, and they always support each other.
Run in the family	A trait or characteristic that is common among family members	Musical talent seems to run in the family.
Follow in someone’s footsteps	To do the same job or activity as someone else, especially a parent	She decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a teacher.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree	Children resemble their parents in character	He’s always getting into trouble; the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
To be the black sheep of the family	To be the odd or disreputable member of a family	He’s always been considered the black sheep of the family.
To be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth	To be born into wealth and privilege	He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and has never had to work a day in his life.
To wear your heart on your sleeve	To openly display your emotions	She wears her heart on her sleeve, so everyone knows when she’s upset.
To have a heart of gold	To be very kind and generous	She has a heart of gold and is always helping others.
To be the spitting image of someone	To look exactly like someone	She is the spitting image of her grandmother.
To get on like a house on fire	To quickly become good friends	They get on like a house on fire whenever they meet.
To keep someone at arm’s length	To avoid being too close or friendly with someone	She keeps him at arm’s length because she doesn’t trust him.
To look up to someone	To admire and respect someone	He looks up to his older brother.
To take after someone	To resemble someone in appearance or character	She takes after her mother in personality.
To be as thick as thieves	To be very close friends	They are as thick as thieves and do everything together.
To bury the hatchet	To make peace after a disagreement	They decided to bury the hatchet and move on.
To clear the air	To resolve a misunderstanding or tension	They needed to clear the air after their argument.
To get something off your chest	To express something that has been bothering you	He needed to get it off his chest, so he told her the truth.
To let bygones be bygones	To forget past offenses and move on	They decided to let bygones be bygones and start fresh.
To pour your heart out	To express your feelings openly and vulnerably	She poured her heart out to her best friend.
To rub someone the wrong way	To annoy or irritate someone	He always rubs me the wrong way with his arrogance.
To see eye to eye	To agree with someone	They don’t always see eye to eye on political issues.
To turn a blind eye	To ignore something that you know is wrong	The manager turned a blind eye to the employee’s misconduct.
To walk on eggshells	To be very careful not to offend someone	I feel like I’m walking on eggshells around him lately.

Table 3: Idioms Describing Friendships

This table focuses on idioms related to friendships, highlighting the bonds of loyalty, support, and shared experiences that characterize these relationships.

Idiom	Meaning	Example Sentence
A shoulder to cry on	Someone who offers comfort and support	She’s always been a shoulder to cry on for me.
Through thick and thin	Through good times and bad times	We’ve been friends through thick and thin.
Birds of a feather flock together	People with similar interests tend to associate with each other	Birds of a feather flock together; that’s why they’re always hanging out.
A fair-weather friend	Someone who is only a friend when things are going well	He turned out to be a fair-weather friend when I needed him most.
To be in someone’s corner	To support someone	I’m always in your corner, no matter what.
To have each other’s backs	To support and protect each other	They always have each other’s backs.
To be partners in crime	To be close friends who often get into mischief together	They’re partners in crime and always up to something.
To strike up a friendship	To begin a friendship	They struck up a friendship during their college years.
To cement a friendship	To strengthen a friendship	Their shared experiences cemented their friendship.
To go way back	To have known each other for a long time	They go way back to elementary school.
To be like two peas in a pod	To be very similar and close	They’re like two peas in a pod; they do everything together.
To keep in touch	To maintain contact with someone	We try to keep in touch despite the distance.
To lose touch	To stop communicating with someone	We lost touch after she moved to another country.
To pick up where you left off	To resume a friendship or conversation easily after a break	Even though it had been years, they picked up where they left off.
To get off on the wrong foot	To start a relationship badly	They got off on the wrong foot during their first meeting.
To turn your back on someone	To abandon someone in a time of need	He would never turn his back on a friend.
To twist the knife	To make someone feel even worse	There’s no need to twist the knife; I already feel bad enough.
To be on the outs with someone	To be on bad terms with someone	They’re on the outs with each other after their argument.
To call it quits	To end a relationship or partnership	They decided to call it quits after years of disagreement.
To cut ties with someone	To end a relationship completely	She decided to cut ties with her toxic friend.
To give someone the cold shoulder	To ignore someone deliberately	She gave him the cold shoulder after he upset her.
To stab someone in the back	To betray someone’s trust	He stabbed me in the back by telling my secrets.
To walk all over someone	To treat someone badly and take advantage of them	He lets his boss walk all over him.
To agree to disagree	To accept that you have different opinions and stop arguing	We’ll just have to agree to disagree on this issue.

Table 4: Idioms Describing Relationship Status

This table presents idioms that are used to describe the current status of a relationship, such as being single, dating, engaged, married, or divorced. These expressions provide a concise way to communicate one’s relationship situation.

Idiom	Meaning	Example Sentence
Playing the field	Dating multiple people without commitment	He’s playing the field and not looking for anything serious.
Going steady	Dating someone exclusively	They’ve been going steady for six months.
Tying the knot	Getting married	They’re planning to tie the knot next summer.
Off the market	No longer available for dating	She’s off the market; she just got engaged.
On the rocks	Experiencing difficulties in a relationship	Their marriage is on the rocks.
Calling it quits	Ending a relationship	They decided to call it quits after years of unhappiness.
A clean break	A complete and decisive end to a relationship	She wanted a clean break from her ex-boyfriend.
Back on the market	Available for dating again after a breakup	He’s back on the market after his divorce.
Living in sin	Living together without being married	They’ve been living in sin for years.
Walking down the aisle	Getting married	She’s excited to be walking down the aisle soon.
Head over heels	Deeply in love	They are head over heels for each other.
An old flame	A former lover	He ran into an old flame at the grocery store.
To be seeing someone	To be dating someone	She’s seeing someone new.
To hit it off	To get along well immediately	They hit it off right away on their first date.
To play hard to get	To pretend to be uninterested to attract someone	She’s playing hard to get to keep him interested.
To pop the question	To propose marriage	He’s planning to pop the question on Valentine’s Day.
To get cold feet	To become nervous before a big event, like a wedding	He got cold feet the night before the wedding.
To leave someone at the altar	To abandon someone just before the wedding	She left him at the altar, which was a terrible thing to do.
To be on the rebound	To be dating someone shortly after a breakup	He’s on the rebound and not ready for a serious relationship.

Table 5: Idioms Describing Relationship Problems

This table highlights idioms used when discussing difficulties, disagreements, or conflicts within a relationship. These expressions can help you articulate the challenges and complexities of interpersonal relationships.

Idiom	Meaning	Example Sentence
To be at each other’s throats	To be constantly arguing or fighting	They’re always at each other’s throats.
To give someone the silent treatment	To refuse to speak to someone as a form of punishment	She’s giving him the silent treatment after their fight.
To air dirty laundry in public	To discuss private matters publicly	They shouldn’t air their dirty laundry in public.
To be on the outs with someone	To be on bad terms with someone	They’re on the outs with each other after their argument.
To drive a wedge between people	To cause a division between people	His lies drove a wedge between them.
To be a thorn in someone’s side	To be a constant source of annoyance	He’s always been a thorn in her side.
To rub someone the wrong way	To annoy or irritate someone	He always rubs me the wrong way.
To get under someone’s skin	To irritate or annoy someone	She really gets under my skin.
To have a bone to pick with someone	To have a grievance to discuss with someone	I have a bone to pick with you about what you said.
To be on thin ice	To be in a precarious situation	He’s on thin ice after missing the deadline.
To call someone out	To publicly criticize someone	She called him out for his inappropriate behavior.
To sweep something under the rug	To ignore or hide a problem	They tried to sweep the issue under the rug.
To beat around the bush	To avoid talking directly about something	Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.
To bite your tongue	To avoid saying something that might be offensive	I had to bite my tongue to avoid starting an argument.
To give someone a piece of your mind	To express your anger or frustration to someone	I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.
To let off steam	To release pent-up emotions	He went for a run to let off steam.
To be a ticking time bomb	To be in a volatile state that could explode at any moment	Their relationship is a ticking time bomb.
To be walking on eggshells	To be very careful not to offend someone	I feel like I’m walking on eggshells around him lately.
To be like oil and water	To be incompatible and unable to mix well	They’re like oil and water; they never agree on anything.

Usage Rules for Relationship Idioms

Using relationship idioms correctly requires understanding their specific meanings and contexts. Here are some key rules to follow:

• Know the Meaning: Always ensure you fully understand the meaning of the idiom before using it. Misusing an idiom can lead to confusion or miscommunication.
• Consider the Context: Idioms are often context-dependent. The same idiom can have slightly different connotations depending on the situation and the relationship being discussed.
• Use Appropriately: Be mindful of your audience and the formality of the situation. Some idioms are more appropriate for casual conversations, while others can be used in more formal settings.
• Don’t Mix Idioms: Avoid combining parts of different idioms, as this can create nonsensical expressions.
• Maintain the Structure: Idioms have a fixed structure, so don’t change the words or their order.

Exceptions: While idioms generally have a fixed structure, some idioms allow for slight variations. For example, you can say “fall head over heels” or “be head over heels,” both of which are correct.

Common Mistakes with Relationship Idioms

One of the most common mistakes is taking an idiom literally. For example, someone might misunderstand “tie the knot” to mean physically tying a knot, rather than getting married.

It’s crucial to remember that idioms have figurative meanings.

Another common mistake is altering the wording of an idiom. Because idioms have a fixed structure, changing the words can render the expression meaningless.

For example, saying “tie the rope” instead of “tie the knot” changes the meaning entirely.

Using an idiom in an inappropriate context is another frequent error. For example, using a very casual idiom in a formal business setting can be jarring and unprofessional.

Here are some examples of correct vs. incorrect usage:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
They fell feet over head in love.	They fell head over heels in love.	The correct idiom is “head over heels.”
Their marriage is on the stones.	Their marriage is on the rocks.	The correct idiom is “on the rocks.”
He popped the question mark.	He popped the question.	The correct idiom is “pop the question.”
She has a smash on him.	She has a crush on him.	The correct idiom is “have a crush on someone.”

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of relationship idioms with these practice exercises. Choose the correct idiom to complete each sentence.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct idiom from the list to complete each sentence.

1. They __________ after their first date and have been inseparable ever since. (a. hit it off, b. called it quits, c. played the field)
2. After years of disagreements, they finally decided to __________. (a. tie the knot, b. call it quits, c. play hard to get)
3. She’s __________ and not looking for a serious relationship right now. (a. going steady, b. off the market, c. playing the field)
4. He’s planning to __________ on their anniversary. (a. pop the question, b. give the cold shoulder, c. air dirty laundry)
5. Their marriage has been __________ for a while now. (a. on the rocks, b. off the market, c. head over heels)
6. They always __________ in public, which can be a bit much. (a. keep in touch, b. are lovey-dovey, c. rub someone the wrong way)
7. He __________ to her after their argument. (a. turned a blind eye, b. gave her a cold shoulder, c. poured his heart out)
8. She decided to __________ with her toxic friend. (a. cut ties, b. patch things up, c. get on like a house on fire)
9. They __________ and do everything together. (a. are like oil and water, b. are as thick as thieves, c. are on thin ice)
10. He always __________ with his arrogance. (a. gets on like a house on fire, b. rubs me the wrong way, c. has a heart of gold)

Answer Key: 1. a, 2. b, 3. c, 4. a, 5. a, 6. b, 7. c, 8. a, 9. b, 10. b

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Choose the best meaning for each idiom.

1. “To be at each other’s throats” means: a. to support each other, b. to constantly argue, c. to ignore each other
2. “To bury the hatchet” means: a. to hide a problem, b. to make peace, c. to start a fight
3. “To have a shoulder to cry on” means: a. to be sad, b. to offer support, c. to be angry
4. “To stab someone in the back” means: a. to help someone, b. to betray someone, c. to trust someone
5. “To walk on eggshells” means: a. to be careful not to offend, b. to be confident, c. to be clumsy
6. “To be like two peas in a pod” means: a. to be different, b. to be similar and close, c. to be competitive
7. What does the idiom “to wear your heart on your sleeve” mean? a. To hide your feelings, b. To openly display your emotions, c. To be secretive
8. “To get something off your chest” means: a. to hide something, b. to express something bothering you, c. to ignore a problem
9. What does the idiom “to turn a blind eye” mean? a. To pay attention, b. To ignore something wrong, c. To be honest
10. What does the idiom “to follow in someone’s footsteps” mean? a. To avoid someone, b. To do the same job as someone, c. To disagree with someone

Answer Key: 1. b, 2. b, 3. b, 4. b, 5. a, 6. b, 7. b, 8. b, 9. b, 10. b

Exercise 3: Sentence Completion

Complete the sentences using the given idioms.

(Blood is thicker than water, A match made in heaven, Get on like a house on fire, Keep someone at arm’s length, See eye to eye)

1. Despite their differences, __________, and they always support each other.
2. They __________ whenever they meet.
3. Everyone says they’re __________.
4. She __________ because she doesn’t trust him.
5. They don’t always __________ on political issues.

Answer Key: 1. blood is thicker than water, 2. get on like a house on fire, 3. a match made in heaven, 4. keeps him at arm’s length, 5. see eye to eye

Advanced Topics in Relationship Idioms

For advanced learners, exploring the etymology and cultural context of relationship idioms can provide a deeper understanding of their meanings. Many idioms have historical

contexts that shed light on why certain phrases became popular and how their meanings have evolved over time.

For instance, understanding the historical significance of “tying the knot” can offer insights into marriage customs and traditions.

Analyzing the cultural relevance of relationship idioms can also reveal how different societies perceive and value relationships. Some idioms may be unique to certain cultures, reflecting specific social norms or beliefs about love, family, and friendship.

Furthermore, comparing relationship idioms across different languages can highlight both similarities and differences in how relationships are conceptualized and expressed. This comparative analysis can enhance your cross-cultural communication skills and broaden your understanding of human relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Mastering relationship idioms is a valuable step toward achieving fluency in English. These expressions offer a unique and colorful way to describe the complexities of human connections.

By understanding the meanings, usage rules, and cultural contexts of relationship idioms, you can enhance your communication skills and express yourself more effectively.

Continue to practice using these idioms in your daily conversations and writing to reinforce your learning. With consistent effort, you’ll become more confident and proficient in using relationship idioms, adding depth and nuance to your English communication.

Keep exploring and learning, and you’ll find that the world of idioms is a fascinating and rewarding aspect of language acquisition.