Language is more than just words — it carries emotions, culture, and stories. One of the most fascinating parts of English is idioms.
Idioms are phrases where the meaning is not directly understood from the words themselves but from how they are used in everyday conversation. They add color, depth, and humor to communication.
When it comes to relationships, idioms are especially powerful. They capture the ups and downs of love, friendship, and human connections in simple, relatable expressions.
Using idioms for relationships helps you sound more natural, fluent, and expressive in English. Whether you’re talking about romance, family bonds, or close friendships, idioms allow you to describe feelings in a fun and memorable way.
In this article, you’ll explore more than 42 idioms about relationships, carefully explained with meanings, examples, and reflections. By the end, you’ll not only know them but also feel confident using them in daily conversations, writing, and even professional contexts.
Did You Know?
The English language has thousands of idioms, and many of them are about love and relationships because emotions are universal. Interestingly, some relationship idioms trace back to old customs and traditions — for example, “tie the knot” comes from an ancient ritual where couples’ hands were tied together with a cord to symbolize marriage!
Idioms About Romantic Relationships
Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married.
Example: After being together for seven years, they finally decided to tie the knot.
Alternative: Get hitched.
Reflection: Commonly used in informal and celebratory contexts.
Love at first sight
Meaning: Falling in love the moment you see someone.
Example: It was love at first sight when they met at the café.
Alternative: Instant connection.
Reflection: Often used in storytelling and romantic conversations.
Head over heels
Meaning: Completely in love.
Example: She is head over heels for her new boyfriend.
Alternative: Deeply in love.
Reflection: Very common in daily life when describing strong attraction.
Match made in heaven
Meaning: A perfect couple.
Example: Everyone says they are a match made in heaven.
Alternative: Perfect pair.
Reflection: Often used positively when talking about compatibility.
Pop the question
Meaning: To propose marriage.
Example: He popped the question during their vacation in Paris.
Alternative: Propose.
Reflection: Casual phrase often used in conversations about engagements.
Kiss and make up
Meaning: To resolve a fight and become friends or lovers again.
Example: They argued last night but kissed and made up this morning.
Alternative: Bury the hatchet.
Reflection: Common in informal speech.
On the rocks
Meaning: A relationship experiencing problems.
Example: Their marriage has been on the rocks for months.
Alternative: Falling apart.
Reflection: Usually heard in discussions about troubled relationships.
Lovebirds
Meaning: A couple who are very affectionate.
Example: The two lovebirds couldn’t stop holding hands at the party.
Alternative: Sweethearts.
Reflection: Often playful, informal.
Break someone’s heart
Meaning: To cause someone great sadness in love.
Example: He broke her heart when he left suddenly.
Alternative: Crush someone’s feelings.
Reflection: Common in emotional contexts.
Puppy love
Meaning: Young or immature love.
Example: Their romance is just puppy love; it may not last.
Alternative: Infatuation.
Reflection: Mostly used when talking about teenage relationships.
Idioms About Friendship and Bonds
A shoulder to cry on
Meaning: Someone who offers comfort.
Example: She was a shoulder to cry on during my tough times.
Alternative: Support system.
Reflection: Common in informal supportive contexts.
Through thick and thin
Meaning: Supporting someone in good and bad times.
Example: We’ve been friends through thick and thin.
Alternative: Stand by someone.
Reflection: Expresses loyalty, often about strong friendships.
Birds of a feather
Meaning: People with similar interests stick together.
Example: They’re always together—birds of a feather flock together.
Alternative: Like-minded friends.
Reflection: Playful and common in describing friendships.
Two peas in a pod
Meaning: Two people who are very close and similar.
Example: They’re like two peas in a pod, always doing everything together.
Alternative: Inseparable.
Reflection: Informal, affectionate phrase.
Build bridges
Meaning: Improve relationships or fix misunderstandings.
Example: The new leader tried to build bridges with the community.
Alternative: Mend fences.
Reflection: Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Fair-weather friend
Meaning: A friend who is only there in good times.
Example: He turned out to be a fair-weather friend when I lost my job.
Alternative: Fake friend.
Reflection: Used negatively, mostly in casual talks.
Shoulder to lean on
Meaning: Someone who provides emotional support.
Example: In hard times, she was my shoulder to lean on.
Alternative: Rock.
Reflection: Informal, heartfelt use.
Circle of friends
Meaning: A group of close friends.
Example: She has a wide circle of friends in college.
Alternative: Social circle.
Reflection: Neutral tone, used in everyday speech.
Mend fences
Meaning: Repair a damaged friendship.
Example: They finally mended fences after years of not speaking.
Alternative: Reconcile.
Reflection: Often used in both personal and professional contexts.
Idioms About Conflicts and Breakups
Go separate ways
Meaning: To end a relationship.
Example: They decided to go their separate ways after graduation.
Alternative: Split up.
Reflection: Neutral tone, often used in formal situations too.
Call it quits
Meaning: To stop a relationship.
Example: After years of fighting, they called it quits.
Alternative: Break up.
Reflection: Informal, widely used in casual talks.
No love lost
Meaning: When two people strongly dislike each other.
Example: There’s no love lost between the two ex-partners.
Alternative: Bad blood.
Reflection: Slightly formal, but common.
Hit it off
Meaning: To get along instantly.
Example: They hit it off the first time they met.
Alternative: Click with someone.
Reflection: Used for both friendships and romance.
Have a falling out
Meaning: To have an argument leading to distance.
Example: They had a falling out and haven’t spoken since.
Alternative: Quarrel.
Reflection: Neutral tone, widely used.
Give someone the cold shoulder
Meaning: To ignore someone.
Example: He gave her the cold shoulder after the argument.
Alternative: Snub.
Reflection: Informal, often daily conversations.
On bad terms
Meaning: Having a poor relationship.
Example: They are on bad terms after the breakup.
Alternative: Sour relationship.
Reflection: Neutral phrase used commonly.
Burning bridges
Meaning: Ending a relationship permanently, often negatively.
Example: He burned bridges with his ex-colleagues by insulting them.
Alternative: Cut ties.
Reflection: Common in personal and professional contexts.
Idioms About Family and Long-Term Bonds
Blood is thicker than water
Meaning: Family relationships are stronger than others.
Example: She helped her brother first because blood is thicker than water.
Alternative: Family comes first.
Reflection: Traditional saying, often formal.
Black sheep of the family
Meaning: A family member who is considered different or rebellious.
Example: He’s the black sheep of the family because he chose a different path.
Alternative: Outcast.
Reflection: Often negative but widely used.
Like father, like son
Meaning: A child resembles their parent.
Example: He loves sports—like father, like son.
Alternative: Runs in the family.
Reflection: Common in casual conversations.
Family ties
Meaning: Strong connection with family.
Example: Despite living abroad, she values her family ties.
Alternative: Kinship.
Reflection: Neutral, can be formal.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Meaning: Children often behave like their parents.
Example: He’s great at singing—the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Alternative: Takes after.
Reflection: Friendly, used daily.
Flesh and blood
Meaning: Someone related by family.
Example: She couldn’t be angry at her own flesh and blood.
Alternative: One’s own kin.
Reflection: Used emotionally, both formal and informal.
Skeleton in the closet
Meaning: A hidden family secret.
Example: Every family has a skeleton in the closet.
Alternative: Hidden past.
Reflection: Commonly used in both serious and casual contexts.
Home is where the heart is
Meaning: Family and home bring true comfort.
Example: No matter where I travel, home is where the heart is.
Alternative: There’s no place like home.
Reflection: Emotional, positive tone.
How to Use These Idioms in Daily Life
- Speaking: Use idioms naturally in conversations with friends, family, or colleagues. For example, instead of saying “We argued but fixed things,” you can say “We kissed and made up.”
- Writing: Idioms make your writing richer, whether in stories, blogs, or even letters. They help add emotional depth and cultural touch.
- Professional usage: Some idioms like “build bridges” or “burning bridges” are excellent for workplace communication. They make your language more professional and engaging.
Common Mistakes Learners Make With Idioms
- Wrong word order:
❌ He made up and kissed.
✅ They kissed and made up. - Too literal use:
❌ She burned bridges in the kitchen.
✅ She burned bridges with her old boss. - Overuse of idioms:
❌ Using idioms in every sentence makes speech unnatural.
✅ Balance idioms with simple expressions for clarity.
FAQs
1. What are relationship idioms?
They are expressions that describe love, friendship, family, and human connections in a figurative way.
2. Can I use idioms in formal writing?
Yes, but carefully. Some idioms like “build bridges” work well in formal contexts, while others like “lovebirds” are better for casual talk.
3. How can I remember idioms easily?
Connect them with real-life experiences. For example, when you see a close couple, think of “two peas in a pod.”
4. Are idioms the same in all languages?
No. Many languages have similar idioms, but English idioms often carry unique cultural meanings.
5. How many idioms should I learn for relationships?
Learning at least 40–50 idioms will give you a strong base to express different situations in relationships.
Conclusion
Idioms bring life, humor, and depth to language, especially when talking about relationships. They capture emotions that plain words often cannot.
From romantic expressions like “head over heels” to friendship phrases like “through thick and thin” and family sayings like “blood is thicker than water,” idioms make communication colorful and human.
By practicing them in your conversations and writing, you’ll sound more fluent and natural. Start with a few favorites, use them daily, and watch how your English shines in relationships of all kinds.
