Love has inspired poets, songwriters, and everyday people for centuries to create colorful expressions that capture the magic, heartbreak, and complexity of romance. Idioms about love add flavor to our conversations, helping us express feelings that sometimes seem too big for ordinary words.

Whether you’re head over heels for someone, nursing a broken heart, or simply enjoying the butterflies of a new romance, these 50 idioms will help you articulate matters of the heart with charm and creativity. Let’s explore these romantic expressions that make the language of love so beautifully expressive!

1. Head Over Heels

Meaning: Completely and deeply in love with someone, often in an overwhelming or all-consuming way.

In a Sentence: Sarah fell head over heels for her coworker during their first conversation at the office party.

Other Ways to Say: Madly in love, crazy about someone, smitten, swept off one’s feet

2. Love at First Sight

Meaning: An instant and powerful romantic attraction to someone upon first meeting them.

In a Sentence: My grandparents believed in love at first sight—they got engaged after knowing each other for just two weeks.

Other Ways to Say: Instant attraction, swept away immediately, lightning strike romance

3. Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve

Meaning: To openly show your emotions and feelings, especially romantic ones, without hiding them.

In a Sentence: James wears his heart on his sleeve, so everyone knew he was interested in Maria long before he asked her out.

Other Ways to Say: Be emotionally transparent, show your feelings openly, be an open book

4. Match Made in Heaven

Meaning: A perfect romantic pairing that seems destined or ideal in every way.

In a Sentence: Those two are a match made in heaven—they share the same interests, values, and sense of humor.

Other Ways to Say: Perfect pair, meant to be, soulmates, made for each other

5. Tie the Knot

Meaning: To get married or enter into matrimony.

In a Sentence: After dating for five years, they finally decided to tie the knot in a small ceremony by the beach.

Other Ways to Say: Get hitched, walk down the aisle, get married, take the plunge

6. Pop the Question

Meaning: To propose marriage to someone.

In a Sentence: He’s planning to pop the question during their anniversary dinner at the restaurant where they first met.

Other Ways to Say: Propose marriage, ask for someone’s hand, make a proposal

7. Puppy Love

Meaning: A temporary, innocent romantic attraction, typically experienced by young people or adolescents.

In a Sentence: Her crush on the boy in her math class was just puppy love that faded by summer.

Other Ways to Say: Young love, infatuation, crush, fleeting romance

8. Old Flame

Meaning: A former romantic partner or someone you once had a relationship with.

In a Sentence: She ran into an old flame at the coffee shop and they spent an hour catching up.

Other Ways to Say: Ex-lover, former sweetheart, past love, ex-partner

9. Carry a Torch For

Meaning: To have lingering romantic feelings for someone, often unrequited or from the past.

In a Sentence: He’s been carrying a torch for his high school sweetheart for over a decade.

Other Ways to Say: Pine for, harbor feelings for, hold a candle for

10. Have the Hots For

Meaning: To be physically or romantically attracted to someone in an intense way.

In a Sentence: Everyone at work could tell that Marcus had the hots for the new marketing director.

Other Ways to Say: Be attracted to, fancy someone, have a thing for

11. Butterflies in Your Stomach

Meaning: The nervous, fluttery feeling of excitement experienced when around someone you’re attracted to.

In a Sentence: Even after three dates, she still gets butterflies in her stomach whenever she sees him.

Other Ways to Say: Nervous excitement, jitters, flutter of nerves

12. Lovebirds

Meaning: A couple who are openly affectionate and clearly very much in love.

In a Sentence: The newlyweds are such lovebirds—they can’t stop holding hands wherever they go.

Other Ways to Say: Romantic couple, affectionate pair, devoted duo

13. Steal Someone’s Heart

Meaning: To make someone fall in love with you, often unexpectedly or quickly.

In a Sentence: The charming stranger at the bookstore completely stole her heart with his wit and kindness.

Other Ways to Say: Win someone’s heart, capture someone’s affection, make someone fall for you

14. Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Meaning: Being apart from someone you love makes you appreciate and miss them more.

In a Sentence: Their long-distance relationship proved that absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Other Ways to Say: Distance strengthens love, separation deepens affection

15. Better Half

Meaning: One’s spouse or romantic partner, implying they complete or improve you.

In a Sentence: I’d love to come to dinner, but I’ll need to check with my better half first.

Other Ways to Say: Significant other, spouse, life partner, other half

16. Love Is Blind

Meaning: When you’re in love, you overlook faults or problems that others might see clearly.

In a Sentence: Her friends tried to warn her about his flaws, but love is blind and she didn’t listen.

Other Ways to Say: Rose-colored glasses, blinded by love, can’t see their faults

17. On the Rocks

Meaning: A relationship that is experiencing problems or difficulties and may end.

In a Sentence: Their marriage has been on the rocks ever since they started arguing about money.

Other Ways to Say: In trouble, struggling, falling apart, hitting rough waters

18. Break Someone’s Heart

Meaning: To cause someone emotional pain by ending a relationship or rejecting their love.

In a Sentence: She didn’t want to break his heart, but she knew they weren’t right for each other.

Other Ways to Say: Hurt someone deeply, crush someone emotionally, devastate someone

19. Fall Out of Love

Meaning: To stop having romantic feelings for someone you once loved.

In a Sentence: They gradually fell out of love and decided it was best to part ways amicably.

Other Ways to Say: Stop loving someone, lose feelings, grow apart romantically

20. Make Up

Meaning: To reconcile with a romantic partner after an argument or disagreement.

In a Sentence: They had a terrible fight last night, but they made up this morning over breakfast.

Other Ways to Say: Reconcile, patch things up, kiss and make up, resolve differences

21. A Labor of Love

Meaning: A task done out of affection or passion rather than for practical benefits.

In a Sentence: Restoring the vintage car was a labor of love that took him three years to complete.

Other Ways to Say: Work of passion, heartfelt project, devoted effort

22. Sweep Someone Off Their Feet

Meaning: To charm or romance someone completely and quickly.

In a Sentence: He swept her off her feet with romantic gestures and thoughtful surprises.

Other Ways to Say: Win someone over, charm completely, romance intensely

23. Love Triangle

Meaning: A romantic situation involving three people where one person is torn between two others.

In a Sentence: The movie featured a classic love triangle with two friends competing for the same person’s affection.

Other Ways to Say: Romantic rivalry, three-way romance, competing affections

24. Unconditional Love

Meaning: Love given without any expectations, limitations, or conditions.

In a Sentence: A parent’s unconditional love means supporting your child no matter what choices they make.

Other Ways to Say: Absolute love, boundless affection, love without limits

25. Platonic Love

Meaning: A close, affectionate relationship without romantic or sexual attraction.

In a Sentence: Despite what others assumed, their friendship was purely platonic love.

Other Ways to Say: Friendly affection, non-romantic bond, brotherly/sisterly love

26. Walk on Air

Meaning: To feel extremely happy and elated, often because of romantic feelings.

In a Sentence: After their first kiss, he was walking on air for days.

Other Ways to Say: On cloud nine, floating with happiness, euphoric

27. Give Someone the Cold Shoulder

Meaning: To deliberately ignore or be unfriendly toward someone, often after a romantic disappointment.

In a Sentence: After their breakup, she gave him the cold shoulder whenever they crossed paths.

Other Ways to Say: Ignore someone, snub someone, give the silent treatment

28. Take the Plunge

Meaning: To commit to a serious relationship step, especially marriage, despite nervousness.

In a Sentence: After years of dating, they decided to take the plunge and move in together.

Other Ways to Say: Make the commitment, take the leap, go all in

29. Whisper Sweet Nothings

Meaning: To say romantic, affectionate words privately to someone you love.

In a Sentence: They spent the evening on the porch, whispering sweet nothings to each other under the stars.

Other Ways to Say: Speak romantically, murmur affections, share tender words

30. Apple of My Eye

Meaning: Someone who is cherished above all others; a beloved person.

In a Sentence: His daughter has always been the apple of his eye since the day she was born.

Other Ways to Say: Most precious person, beloved one, treasured individual

31. One and Only

Meaning: The only person someone loves romantically; a soulmate or true love.

In a Sentence: He told her she was his one and only and that he’d never felt this way before.

Other Ways to Say: True love, the one, soulmate, only love

32. Lose Your Heart To

Meaning: To fall completely in love with someone.

In a Sentence: She lost her heart to him during that summer in Paris.

Other Ways to Say: Fall for someone, give your heart to, become enamored with

33. Lovey-Dovey

Meaning: Excessively affectionate or sentimental in a romantic way.

In a Sentence: They’re so lovey-dovey in public that it makes their friends roll their eyes.

Other Ways to Say: Mushy, overly affectionate, saccharine, touchy-feely

34. Two Peas in a Pod

Meaning: Two people who are very similar and compatible with each other.

In a Sentence: Those two are like two peas in a pod—they finish each other’s sentences!

Other Ways to Say: Perfectly matched, alike in every way, cut from the same cloth

35. Through Thick and Thin

Meaning: Remaining together and supportive during both good times and difficult times.

In a Sentence: They’ve been together through thick and thin for over thirty years.

Other Ways to Say: In good times and bad, for better or worse, no matter what

36. Set One’s Heart On

Meaning: To desire someone or something very much, especially romantically.

In a Sentence: She had set her heart on marrying someone who shared her adventurous spirit.

Other Ways to Say: Desire deeply, long for, have one’s heart set on

37. Be an Item

Meaning: To be in a recognized romantic relationship with someone.

In a Sentence: Everyone at school knows they’re an item now after being seen together constantly.

Other Ways to Say: Be a couple, be dating, be together

38. Lovesick

Meaning: Feeling sad or unwell because of unrequited love or separation from a loved one.

In a Sentence: He’s been lovesick ever since she left for her study abroad program.

Other Ways to Say: Pining away, heartsick, yearning for love

39. Forbidden Love

Meaning: A romantic relationship that is not allowed or approved by society or circumstances.

In a Sentence: Their forbidden love story reminds me of Romeo and Juliet.

Other Ways to Say: Star-crossed romance, illicit love, taboo relationship

40. Fall for Someone

Meaning: To develop romantic feelings for someone, often unexpectedly.

In a Sentence: I never expected to fall for my best friend, but here we are.

Other Ways to Say: Develop feelings for, become attracted to, grow fond of

41. Love Rat

Meaning: Someone who is unfaithful or cheats in a romantic relationship.

In a Sentence: She discovered he was a love rat when she found messages to another woman on his phone.

Other Ways to Say: Cheater, unfaithful partner, two-timer

42. Kiss and Tell

Meaning: To publicly reveal details about a private romantic or intimate relationship.

In a Sentence: He promised not to kiss and tell about their secret romance.

Other Ways to Say: Reveal secrets, divulge intimate details, spill the beans about romance

43. Play the Field

Meaning: To date multiple people rather than committing to one relationship.

In a Sentence: He’s not ready for anything serious—he prefers to play the field right now.

Other Ways to Say: Date around, see multiple people, keep options open

44. Sparks Fly

Meaning: An instant, intense romantic or sexual chemistry between two people.

In a Sentence: When they met at the party, the sparks flew immediately and everyone noticed.

Other Ways to Say: Chemistry ignites, instant attraction, electric connection

45. A Hopeless Romantic

Meaning: Someone who believes deeply in love and romance, often unrealistically.

In a Sentence: She’s such a hopeless romantic that she still believes in fairy tale endings.

Other Ways to Say: Eternal optimist in love, romantic idealist, dreamer of love

46. String Someone Along

Meaning: To keep someone interested romantically without serious intentions or commitment.

In a Sentence: He’s just stringing her along instead of being honest about not wanting a relationship.

Other Ways to Say: Lead someone on, give false hope, toy with someone’s feelings

47. The Honeymoon Phase

Meaning: The early, blissful period of a relationship when everything seems perfect.

In a Sentence: They’re still in the honeymoon phase where they can’t imagine ever arguing.

Other Ways to Say: The beginning stage, early romance period, initial bliss

48. Marry in Haste, Repent at Leisure

Meaning: Rushing into marriage without proper consideration often leads to regret.

In a Sentence: Her parents warned her that marry in haste, repent at leisure, but she didn’t listen.

Other Ways to Say: Don’t rush into marriage, think before committing, hasty decisions bring regret

49. Rebound Relationship

Meaning: A romantic relationship that begins shortly after a previous one ends, often to cope with heartbreak.

In a Sentence: Everyone knew his new girlfriend was just a rebound relationship to help him get over his ex.

Other Ways to Say: Transitional romance, post-breakup fling, recovery relationship

50. Until Death Do Us Part

Meaning: A commitment to stay together for life, traditionally used in marriage vows.

In a Sentence: They meant their vows of until death do us part and celebrated fifty years together.

Other Ways to Say: Forever together, for life, till the end of time, eternally committed

Quiz: 50 Idioms About Love to Add Romance to Speech

Test your knowledge of romantic idioms with this comprehensive quiz based on the article above!

1. What does the idiom “head over heels” mean?

A) To trip and fall because of love
B) Completely and deeply in love with someone
C) To stand on your head for someone
D) To be confused about your feelings

Answer: B) Completely and deeply in love with someone

2. Which idiom describes an instant and powerful romantic attraction upon first meeting?

A) Puppy love
B) Old flame
C) Love at first sight
D) Sparks fly

Answer: C) Love at first sight

3. If someone “wears their heart on their sleeve,” they:

A) Have a tattoo on their arm
B) Openly show their emotions without hiding them
C) Keep their feelings secret
D) Dress romantically

Answer: B) Openly show their emotions without hiding them

4. What does “tie the knot” mean?

A) To learn sailing
B) To get married
C) To make a promise
D) To tie a ribbon

Answer: B) To get married

5. “Pop the question” refers to:

A) Asking a difficult test question
B) Proposing marriage to someone
C) Starting an argument
D) Opening champagne

Answer: B) Proposing marriage to someone

6. What is “puppy love”?

A) Love for dogs
B) A temporary, innocent romantic attraction typically experienced by young people
C) A mature, lasting relationship
D) Love between pets

Answer: B) A temporary, innocent romantic attraction typically experienced by young people

7. An “old flame” is:

A) A candle from the past
B) A former romantic partner
C) An elderly person
D) A dying fire

Answer: B) A former romantic partner

8. If you “carry a torch for” someone, you:

A) Light their way
B) Work as a firefighter
C) Have lingering romantic feelings for them
D) Lead them somewhere

Answer: C) Have lingering romantic feelings for them

9. “Butterflies in your stomach” describes:

A) A digestive problem
B) The nervous, fluttery feeling of excitement when around someone you’re attracted to
C) Hunger
D) Fear of insects

Answer: B) The nervous, fluttery feeling of excitement when around someone you’re attracted to

10. What are “lovebirds”?

A) A species of parrots
B) A couple who are openly affectionate and clearly very much in love
C) Birds that mate for life
D) Valentine’s Day decorations

Answer: B) A couple who are openly affectionate and clearly very much in love

11. To “steal someone’s heart” means to:

A) Commit a crime
B) Make someone fall in love with you
C) Take someone’s feelings away
D) Perform surgery

Answer: B) Make someone fall in love with you

12. The saying “absence makes the heart grow fonder” suggests that:

A) Being apart makes you forget someone
B) Distance destroys relationships
C) Being apart makes you appreciate and miss someone more
D) You should avoid long-distance relationships

Answer: C) Being apart makes you appreciate and miss someone more

13. Your “better half” refers to:

A) A healthier lifestyle
B) Your spouse or romantic partner
C) Half of your paycheck
D) Your good side

Answer: B) Your spouse or romantic partner

14. “Love is blind” means:

A) Love makes you unable to see
B) When you’re in love, you overlook faults that others might see
C) Blind people can fall in love
D) Love requires no vision

Answer: B) When you’re in love, you overlook faults that others might see

15. If a relationship is “on the rocks,” it is:

A) Built on a solid foundation
B) Taking place at the beach
C) Experiencing problems and may end
D) Very stable

Answer: C) Experiencing problems and may end

16. To “break someone’s heart” is to:

A) Perform cardiac surgery
B) Cause someone emotional pain by ending a relationship or rejecting their love
C) Break a piece of jewelry
D) Interrupt someone’s speech

Answer: B) Cause someone emotional pain by ending a relationship or rejecting their love

17. When people “make up” after a fight, they:

A) Apply cosmetics
B) Create a story
C) Reconcile with each other
D) Wake up together

Answer: C) Reconcile with each other

18. A “labor of love” is:

A) Childbirth
B) A difficult job
C) A task done out of affection or passion rather than for practical benefits
D) Working on Valentine’s Day

Answer: C) A task done out of affection or passion rather than for practical benefits

19. To “sweep someone off their feet” means to:

A) Clean the floor beneath them
B) Charm or romance someone completely and quickly
C) Trip someone
D) Carry someone physically

Answer: B) Charm or romance someone completely and quickly

20. A “love triangle” involves:

A) A geometric shape
B) Three people where one person is torn between two others
C) A triangular piece of jewelry
D) Three married couples

Answer: B) Three people where one person is torn between two others

21. “Unconditional love” means:

A) Love that requires certain conditions
B) Love given without any expectations, limitations, or conditions
C) Love that changes frequently
D) Temporary affection

Answer: B) Love given without any expectations, limitations, or conditions

22. “Platonic love” describes:

A) Love in ancient Greece
B) A close, affectionate relationship without romantic or sexual attraction
C) Philosophical discussions about love
D) Love at first sight

Answer: B) A close, affectionate relationship without romantic or sexual attraction

23. To “walk on air” means you feel:

A) Like flying in a plane
B) Extremely happy and elated
C) Weightless
D) Confused

Answer: B) Extremely happy and elated

24. “Give someone the cold shoulder” means to:

A) Offer them ice
B) Deliberately ignore or be unfriendly toward someone
C) Give them a massage
D) Share your jacket

Answer: B) Deliberately ignore or be unfriendly toward someone

25. To “take the plunge” in a relationship means to:

A) Go swimming together
B) Commit to a serious relationship step despite nervousness
C) Take a risk in business
D) Jump off a diving board

Answer: B) Commit to a serious relationship step despite nervousness

26. “Whisper sweet nothings” means to:

A) Say nothing at all
B) Say romantic, affectionate words privately to someone you love
C) Tell secrets
D) Speak quietly about trivial matters

Answer: B) Say romantic, affectionate words privately to someone you love

27. The “apple of my eye” refers to:

A) A fruit-related vision problem
B) Someone who is cherished above all others
C) A type of apple
D) An eye doctor

Answer: B) Someone who is cherished above all others

28. Your “one and only” is:

A) Your only friend
B) The only person you love romantically; a soulmate
C) An only child
D) A single serving

Answer: B) The only person you love romantically; a soulmate

29. To “lose your heart to” someone means to:

A) Have a medical emergency
B) Fall completely in love with someone
C) Forget about someone
D) Misplace a valentine card

Answer: B) Fall completely in love with someone

30. “Lovey-dovey” describes behavior that is:

A) Related to birds
B) Excessively affectionate or sentimental in a romantic way
C) Professional
D) Argumentative

Answer: B) Excessively affectionate or sentimental in a romantic way

31. “Two peas in a pod” means two people are:

A) Very small
B) Very similar and compatible with each other
C) Vegetarians
D) Living together

Answer: B) Very similar and compatible with each other

32. “Through thick and thin” means staying together:

A) Only when things are good
B) During both good times and difficult times
C) When losing or gaining weight
D) In crowded places

Answer: B) During both good times and difficult times

33. To “be an item” means to:

A) Be for sale
B) Be in a recognized romantic relationship
C) Be on a list
D) Be a collectible object

Answer: B) Be in a recognized romantic relationship

34. Someone who is “lovesick” is:

A) Physically ill with a disease
B) Feeling sad or unwell because of unrequited love or separation
C) Tired of being in love
D) Afraid of commitment

Answer: B) Feeling sad or unwell because of unrequited love or separation

35. “Forbidden love” refers to:

A) Love that is encouraged
B) A romantic relationship that is not allowed or approved by society or circumstances
C) Love in a library
D) Secret admiration

Answer: B) A romantic relationship that is not allowed or approved by society or circumstances

36. To “fall for someone” means to:

A) Trip over them
B) Develop romantic feelings for someone
C) Deceive someone
D) Fall down near them

Answer: B) Develop romantic feelings for someone

37. A “love rat” is someone who:

A) Loves rodents
B) Is unfaithful or cheats in a romantic relationship
C) Is very romantic
D) Works with animals

Answer: B) Is unfaithful or cheats in a romantic relationship

38. To “kiss and tell” means to:

A) Practice kissing
B) Publicly reveal details about a private romantic relationship
C) Kiss someone goodbye
D) Tell someone you want to kiss them

Answer: B) Publicly reveal details about a private romantic relationship

39. To “play the field” means to:

A) Play sports
B) Date multiple people rather than committing to one relationship
C) Work in agriculture
D) Be an athlete

Answer: B) Date multiple people rather than committing to one relationship

40. When “sparks fly” between two people:

A) There’s an electrical problem
B) There’s instant, intense romantic or sexual chemistry
C) They’re angry at each other
D) They’re welding

Answer: B) There’s instant, intense romantic or sexual chemistry

41. A “hopeless romantic” is someone who:

A) Has given up on love
B) Believes deeply in love and romance, often unrealistically
C) Is bad at relationships
D) Never falls in love

Answer: B) Believes deeply in love and romance, often unrealistically

42. To “string someone along” means to:

A) Teach them to play guitar
B) Keep someone interested romantically without serious intentions
C) Tie them up
D) Lead them somewhere physically

Answer: B) Keep someone interested romantically without serious intentions

43. “The honeymoon phase” refers to:

A) A vacation after marriage
B) The early, blissful period of a relationship when everything seems perfect
C) A phase of the moon
D) The wedding planning period

Answer: B) The early, blissful period of a relationship when everything seems perfect

44. “Marry in haste, repent at leisure” suggests that:

A) Quick marriages are always successful
B) Rushing into marriage without proper consideration often leads to regret
C) Marriage should be avoided
D) Leisure time is important in marriage

Answer: B) Rushing into marriage without proper consideration often leads to regret

45. A “rebound relationship” is:

A) A basketball-related romance
B) A romantic relationship that begins shortly after a previous one ends
C) A very stable relationship
D) A relationship that bounces back and forth

Answer: B) A romantic relationship that begins shortly after a previous one ends

46. “Until death do us part” represents:

A) A temporary commitment
B) A commitment to stay together for life
C) A funeral vow
D) A divorce agreement

Answer: B) A commitment to stay together for life

47. To “have the hots for” someone means to:

A) Have a fever around them
B) Be physically or romantically attracted to them intensely
C) Be angry with them
D) Feel warm near them

Answer: B) Be physically or romantically attracted to them intensely

48. A “match made in heaven” is:

A) A boxing competition
B) A perfect romantic pairing that seems destined
C) A religious ceremony
D) A matchstick brand

Answer: B) A perfect romantic pairing that seems destined

49. To “fall out of love” means to:

A) Physically fall while in love
B) Stop having romantic feelings for someone you once loved
C) Leave a relationship angrily
D) Forget someone’s name

Answer: B) Stop having romantic feelings for someone you once loved

50. To “set one’s heart on” someone means to:

A) Place your heart physically on them
B) Desire someone very much, especially romantically
C) Decide against loving them
D) Give them medical advice

Answer: B) Desire someone very much, especially romantically

These 50 idioms about love offer rich, expressive ways to talk about romance in all its forms. From the giddy excitement of new love to the comfortable companionship of long-term relationships, these phrases help us communicate the universal experience of matters of the heart. Whether you’re writing a love letter, chatting with friends about relationships, or simply want to add more color to your conversations, these idioms will help you express the beautiful, complicated, and wonderful world of love!