50+ Love Idioms and Phrases

Love Idioms with meaning and example

List of useful love idioms in English with meaning and examples. Learn common phrases and idioms about love in English to improve your vocabulary and help your English sound more like a native speaker.

List of Love Idioms

Love Idioms with Meaning and Examples

Head over heels
Meaning: To be completely in love with someone.
Example: Jack is head over heels for his girlfriend Sarah.

Love at first sight
Meaning: To fall in love with someone instantly upon first seeing them.
Example: When Jenny met Tom, it was love at first sight.

Cupid’s arrow
Meaning: To be struck by Cupid’s arrow means to fall in love unexpectedly.
Example: I never thought I’d fall in love again, but Cupid’s arrow struck me when I met Mark.

Lovey-dovey
Meaning: Expressing love or affection in an overly sentimental way.
Example: I can’t stand it when my friends get all lovey-dovey in front of me.

Wear your heart on your sleeve
Meaning: To openly display one’s emotions, especially love.
Example: Mary always wears her heart on her sleeve, which makes it easy to know how she’s feeling.

Head over heels in love
Meaning: To be deeply and completely in love with someone.
Example: Ever since he met Sarah, Jack has been head over heels in love with her.

A match made in heaven
Meaning: Two people who are perfectly suited for each other.
Example: Sarah and Jack are a match made in heaven; they share so many interests and values.

Smitten
Meaning: To be completely enamored with someone.
Example: After their first date, John was completely smitten with Mary.

Love is blind
Meaning: The idea that when we are in love, we cannot see our partner’s flaws.
Example: Even though her friends warned her about his bad habits, Sarah continued to love Jack because love is blind.

Love triangle
Meaning: A situation in which three people are romantically involved with each other.
Example: Mary found herself in a love triangle when both John and Peter asked her out.

Butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: The feeling of nervousness or excitement in your stomach when you are in love.
Example: Every time Sarah sees Jack, she gets butterflies in her stomach.

Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married.
Example: After dating for three years, Sarah and Jack decided to tie the knot.

Lovebirds
Meaning: A term used to describe two people who are very much in love.
Example: John and Mary are like lovebirds; they are always holding hands and looking into each other’s eyes.

To be head over heels for someone
Meaning: To be deeply in love with someone.
Example: Despite their differences, Mary is head over heels for John.

Love conquers all
Meaning: The idea that love is stronger than anything else.
Example: Despite their difficult circumstances, Sarah and Jack believe that love will conquer all.

To fall head over heels in love
Meaning: To suddenly and completely fall in love with someone.
Example: Peter fell head over heels in love with Mary the moment he saw her.

My heart skips a beat
Meaning: A phrase used to describe the feeling of excitement or nervousness when you see someone you love.
Example: Whenever John sees Mary, his heart skips a beat.

Soul mate
Meaning: A person with whom you have a deep and lasting connection.
Example: Mary believes that John is her soul mate.

Love nest
Meaning: A home shared by a couple in love.
Example: After they got married, Sarah and Jack created a cozy love nest in their new apartment.

To be swept off your feet
Meaning: To be overwhelmed with emotion or passion.
Example: Mary was swept off her feet by John’s romantic gesture.

Love-hate relationship
Meaning: A relationship characterized by intense emotions, including both love and hate.
Example: Sarah and Jack have a love-hate relationship; they fight often but always make up in the end.

Infatuation
Meaning: An intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone.
Example: Peter’s infatuation with Mary faded quickly when he realized they weren’t compatible.

Love letter
Meaning: A written message expressing one’s feelings of love and affection.
Example: John wrote Mary a love letter expressing his feelings for her.

Love potion
Meaning: A fictional concoction believed to make someone fall in love.
Example: In fairy tales, a love potion is often used to make two people fall in love.

Love triangle
Meaning: A situation in which three people are romantically involved with each other.
Example: Mary found herself in a love triangle when both John and Peter asked her out.

Double date
Meaning: A date involving two couples.
Example: Sarah and Jack went on a double date with Mary and John.

Love affair
Meaning: A romantic relationship, often secret or illicit.
Example: Sarah’s love affair with her boss ended badly when he was caught cheating on her.

Love interest
Meaning: A person who is the object of one’s romantic affections.
Example: John was Mary’s love interest from the moment they met.

Heartthrob
Meaning: A person who is attractive and admired by many people.
Example: Tom is a heartthrob who has many admirers.

Better half
Meaning: A term of endearment used to refer to one’s spouse or partner.
Example: Sarah is Jack’s better half; they complement each other perfectly.

Blind date
Meaning: A date arranged between two people who have not met before.
Example: Mary went on a blind date with Peter, but they didn’t hit it off.

Love seat
Meaning: A small couch or sofa intended for two people.
Example: Sarah and Jack cuddled on the love seat in front of the fireplace.

Love language
Meaning: The way in which one expresses or experiences love.
Example: Sarah’s love language is acts of service, while Jack’s is physical touch.

Love triangle
Meaning: A situation in which three people are romantically involved with each other.
Example: Mary found herself in a love triangle when both John and Peter asked her out.

Love nest
Meaning: A home shared by a couple in love.
Example: After they got married, Sarah and Jack created a cozy love nest in their new apartment.

True love
Meaning: A deep and lasting love that withstands the test of time.
Example: Sarah and Jack believe that their love is true and will last a lifetime.

To be love-struck
Meaning: To be deeply and completely in love with someone.
Example: Mary was love-struck when she met John.

Love handles
Meaning: Excess fat around the waist, often considered unattractive.
Example: Sarah was self-conscious about her love handles and started exercising to get rid of them.

Puppy love
Meaning: A young person’s first experience with romantic love.
Example: Sarah’s parents told her that her crush on John was just puppy love.

Love triangle
Meaning: A situation in which three people are romantically involved with each other.
Example: Mary found herself in a love triangle when both John and Peter asked her out.

Love nest
Meaning: A home shared by a couple in love.
Example: After they got married, Sarah and Jack created a cozy love nest in their new apartment.

To be head over heels in love
Meaning: To be deeply in love with someone.
Example: Ever since she met John, Sarah has been head over heels in love with him and can’t stop thinking about him.

Main Squeeze
Meaning: Committed romantic partner
Example: Don’t be angry! Yes, I was talking to that other girl, but you know you’re my main squeeze!

The apple of one’s eye
Meaning: Someone who is cherished above all others.
Example: Sarah’s children are the apple of her eye.

My heart skips a beat
Meaning: An expression of overwhelming emotion or excitement.
Example: Every time John sees Mary, his heart skips a beat.

Love conquers all
Meaning: The belief that love is stronger than any obstacle or challenge.
Example: Sarah and Jack believe that their love will conquer all of life’s difficulties.

Love is in the air
Meaning: A feeling or atmosphere of love and romance.
Example: With Valentine’s Day approaching, love is in the air.

Cupid’s arrow
Meaning: A metaphorical reference to falling in love.
Example: Mary felt like Cupid’s arrow had struck her when she met John.

Carry a Torch (for)
Meaning: To continue to be in love with someone even after a relationship has ended
Example: Even though they broke up years ago, John still carries a torch for Mary and can’t seem to move on.

Break up/ Split up (With Somebody)
Meaning: End the relationship
Example: Have you heard? Marian and Joseph have split up. I wonder what went wrong. They were so good together.

(Fall for Something) Hook, Line, and Sinker
Meaning: To be completely deceived
Example: I was so in love with him I was totally ready to believe his lies-I fell for them hook, line, and sinker.

(To Think that Someone) Hung the Moon
Meaning: To idealize someone; to think someone is capable of enormously difficult acts
Example: Everyone else thinks George is just an ordinary guy, but his wife thinks he hung the moon.

Be an item
Meaning: Two people are an item when they are having a romantic relationship
Example: I didn’t know Chris and Sue were an item. They didn’t even look at each other at dinner.

Have the hots for somebody
Meaning: Finding somebody extremely attractive
Example: Nadine has the hots for the new apprentice. I wouldn’t be surprised if she asked him out.

Kiss and make up
Meaning: Make peace after an argument
Example: After a big fight, Sarah and Jack decided to kiss and make up and put the argument behind them.

Love rat
Meaning: Somebody who cheats on his/her partner
Example: Don’t even think about asking Jane out. How could you look your wife in the eye? Don’t be a love rat.

May-December Marriage
Meaning: A marriage between a younger and an older partner, typically a young woman and an old man.
Example: Their May-December marriage sparked gossip that she was only after his money.

No love lost between
Meaning: There is a mutual animosity between two people
Example: There is no love lost between the two colleagues, they have never liked each other.

Old Flame
Meaning: A former boyfriend or girlfriend
Example: An old flame has come back into my life. I’m seeing her tomorrow night.

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