Love has inspired poets, songwriters, and storytellers for centuries, and it has also filled our everyday speech with colorful expressions that go far beyond the literal meanings of the words we use. These “love idioms” paint vivid pictures of fluttering hearts, star‑struck glances, and lifelong bonds, allowing us to capture big feelings in just a few memorable phrases. Learning them is like unlocking a secret romantic code: once you know what these expressions mean, you can recognize them in movies, books, and real‑life conversations—and even sprinkle them into your own speech to sound more fluent, expressive, and, yes, a bit more charming.
Because matters of the heart can be hard to describe, idioms offer a shortcut to sharing our emotions with flair. Whether you’re confessing a crush, celebrating an anniversary, or consoling a heartbroken friend, the right idiom can help you convey empathy, excitement, or encouragement in a way that feels both natural and poetic. In this article, you’ll explore forty‑five popular idioms for love, discover their meanings, and see how to weave them into long, descriptive sentences that truly capture the mood. There’s even a practice exercise at the end, so you can test your knowledge and make these romantic turns of phrase part of your everyday vocabulary. Ready to fall head over heels for language? Let’s dive in!
Idioms for Love
1. Head over heels
Meaning: Completely and irresistibly in love.
In a Sentence: Ever since Mia met Lucas at the art fair, she has been head over heels for him, daydreaming through every class and doodling his name in the margins of her notebook.
Other Ways to Say: Totally smitten, Madly in love
2. Love at first sight
Meaning: Falling in love instantly upon meeting someone.
In a Sentence: When the shy barista locked eyes with the traveling musician across the counter, both felt an electric jolt of love at first sight that neither of them could explain away as coincidence.
Other Ways to Say: Instant chemistry, Immediate attraction
3. Carry a torch (for someone)
Meaning: To keep loving someone, often secretly, for a long time after the relationship has ended or the feeling is unreturned.
In a Sentence: Even years after graduation, Aria still carried a torch for her high‑school sweetheart, replaying their prom night song whenever she drove alone at sunset.
Other Ways to Say: Harbor feelings, Nurse a crush
4. A match made in heaven
Meaning: Two people perfectly suited for each other.
In a Sentence: The way Jasper’s dry wit complements Nina’s bubbly laughter makes everyone agree that their partnership is a match made in heaven.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect pair, Ideal couple
5. Puppy love
Meaning: An intense but short‑lived youthful infatuation.
In a Sentence: Their seventh‑grade hallway hand‑holding was pure puppy love, sweet and innocent, fading as quickly as summer vacation began.
Other Ways to Say: Young crush, Adolescent infatuation
6. Wear your heart on your sleeve
Meaning: To openly show your emotions, especially romantic feelings.
In a Sentence: Diego wears his heart on his sleeve, sending morning playlists and handwritten notes so sincere that no one ever doubts how deeply he cares.
Other Ways to Say: Be openly emotional, Show feelings plainly
7. Tie the knot
Meaning: To get married.
In a Sentence: After backpacking across three continents together, Priya and Sam decided it was finally time to tie the knot in a mountaintop ceremony surrounded by wildflowers and lifelong friends.
Other Ways to Say: Get hitched, Walk down the aisle
8. Pop the question
Meaning: To propose marriage.
In a Sentence: Under a canopy of fairy lights strung between oak trees, Jordan nervously popped the question, his voice trembling with hope as he held out the ring.
Other Ways to Say: Propose, Ask for one’s hand
9. Heart skips a beat
Meaning: To feel a sudden surge of excitement or nervousness, usually because of love.
In a Sentence: Every time the notification ping revealed Maya’s name, Leo felt his heart skip a beat, the rest of the bustling café fading into a pleasant blur.
Other Ways to Say: Feel a flutter, Get butterflies
10. Have a crush on
Meaning: To feel a strong but often secret attraction to someone.
In a Sentence: Lately, Harper can’t concentrate during chemistry lab because she has such a huge crush on the new exchange student, replaying every shared smile in her mind like a favorite movie scene.
Other Ways to Say: Fancy someone, Be sweet on
11. Apple of my eye
Meaning: Someone cherished above all others.
In a Sentence: Though Mrs. Ramirez adores all her grandchildren, little Sofia is the apple of her eye, and she proudly shows off the toddler’s finger‑paint masterpieces to anyone who visits.
Other Ways to Say: Pride and joy, Beloved one
12. Sweet on (someone)
Meaning: To be fond of or romantically interested in someone.
In a Sentence: Everyone in the marching band knows that Eli is sweet on Brooke because he volunteers for every percussion‑section chore just to spend a few extra minutes near her vibraphone.
Other Ways to Say: Keen on, Into someone
13. Fall for (someone)
Meaning: To begin to love someone, often unexpectedly.
In a Sentence: Despite vowing never to date a coworker, Aisha found herself falling for Ben during late‑night project meetings that turned spreadsheet marathons into laughter‑filled pizza parties.
Other Ways to Say: Develop feelings, Become smitten
14. Make eyes at
Meaning: To look at someone in a way that shows romantic interest.
In a Sentence: Across the crowded bookshop café, Rowan kept making eyes at Jamie over the rim of a mismatched teacup, hoping the silent flirtation would invite a conversation about poetry.
Other Ways to Say: Flirt with, Cast admiring glances
15. Be an item
Meaning: To be in a romantic relationship, usually known to others.
In a Sentence: After months of subtle hints and shared playlists, Kai and Morgan finally became an item, posting a single soft‑focus photo that confirmed what their friends had suspected all along.
Other Ways to Say: Be together, Be a couple
16. Go steady
Meaning: To date someone exclusively.
In a Sentence: In true vintage style, Theo asked Lily if she would go steady, presenting her with a tiny silver locket engraved with the date they first met at the roller rink.
Other Ways to Say: Date exclusively, Commit to one another
17. Lovebirds
Meaning: Two people who are obviously very much in love.
In a Sentence: The barista couldn’t help smiling as the lovebirds in the corner booth shared one oversized scarf and whispered jokes over a single mug of cocoa topped with extra marshmallows.
Other Ways to Say: Adoring couple, Inseparable pair
18. Lovey‑dovey
Meaning: Overly affectionate in public.
In a Sentence: While some classmates rolled their eyes, most found it endearing when Max and Noor grew lovey‑dovey at the spring formal, slow‑dancing long after the music had stopped.
Other Ways to Say: Mushy, Sappy
19. Take someone’s breath away
Meaning: To amaze or enchant someone with beauty or charm.
In a Sentence: The moment Ren saw Lila glide onto the stage beneath the soft amber spotlight, her radiant smile took his breath away, leaving him utterly speechless in the crowded auditorium.
Other Ways to Say: Astonish, Leave someone awestruck
20. Heartthrob
Meaning: A person who is exceptionally attractive and the focus of many people’s affection.
In a Sentence: The new drama‑club president became an instant heartthrob, receiving anonymous love notes in his locker and bashful waves from classmates who suddenly found excuses to pass by his table at lunch.
Other Ways to Say: Dreamboat, Crush magnet
21. Steal someone’s heart
Meaning: To cause someone to fall in love with you.
In a Sentence: With her easy laugh, quick wit, and uncanny knack for remembering the tiniest details, Jada stole Marcus’s heart during a single rainy‑day study session in the library’s quiet corner.
Other Ways to Say: Win someone over, Capture someone’s heart
22. Walk on air
Meaning: To feel extremely happy, especially because of love.
In a Sentence: After their first official date ended with a shy kiss beneath the glowing streetlights, Eli walked on air all the way home, barely noticing the cool drizzle soaking his jacket.
Other Ways to Say: Float with joy, Be over the moon
23. Soulmate
Meaning: A person ideally suited to another in temperament and affection.
In a Sentence: Even their spirited debates end in laughter, convincing everyone around them that Maya and Jonah are true soulmates who somehow found each other in a world of eight billion people.
Other Ways to Say: Kindred spirit, Perfect match
24. Better half
Meaning: A humorous or affectionate term for one’s spouse or partner.
In a Sentence: During the award ceremony, Professor Chen thanked his better half, admitting that her late‑night coffee deliveries kept both his research and his heart running.
Other Ways to Say: Significant other, Life partner
25. Have eyes only for
Meaning: To be romantically interested in no one else.
In a Sentence: Amid the swirl of dancers at the wedding reception, Carmen had eyes only for Luis, swaying as though the string quartet played solely for them.
Other Ways to Say: Be devoted to, Focus solely on
26. Go weak at the knees
Meaning: To feel sudden, overwhelming attraction or emotion that makes you physically shaky.
In a Sentence: When the elevator doors opened and Zara stepped out in a vintage velvet gown, Omar went so weak at the knees he nearly forgot how to speak.
Other Ways to Say: Feel faint with love, Turn to jelly
27. Love is blind
Meaning: Deep affection can cause people to overlook flaws.
In a Sentence: “Love is blind,” Emma admitted with a laugh, defending Leo’s terrible puns yet again during their weekly trivia night.
Other Ways to Say: Overlook faults, See no wrong
28. Crazy about
Meaning: To be extremely fond of or deeply in love with someone.
In a Sentence: Ever since the two of them shared headphones on the bus ride home, Quinn has been absolutely crazy about Riley, humming their favorite song under his breath and smiling at nothing in particular during algebra class.
Other Ways to Say: Wild for, Nuts about
29. Hit it off
Meaning: To form an instant, easy connection with someone.
In a Sentence: From the very first joke they exchanged in the museum’s fossil wing, Ava and Jonah hit it off so naturally that their friends joked the dinosaurs hadn’t seen chemistry that strong in sixty‑five million years.
Other Ways to Say: Click immediately, Get along instantly
30. Sparks fly
Meaning: To feel an immediate, intense attraction or excitement between two people.
In a Sentence: When the debate captain teamed up with the drama‑club lead for the charity show, sparks flew onstage and off, lighting up every rehearsal with playful banter and lingering glances.
Other Ways to Say: Instant fireworks, Electric connection
31. Have chemistry
Meaning: To share a natural, mutual attraction or rapport.
In a Sentence: Even their silent study sessions reveal how much chemistry Maya and Leo have, each turning pages in perfect sync as though their heartbeats follow the same quiet metronome.
Other Ways to Say: Share a vibe, Click together
32. Old flame
Meaning: A former romantic partner for whom feelings may still linger.
In a Sentence: Running into her old flame at the farmers’ market, Isla felt a bittersweet rush of memories as the scent of fresh strawberries mingled with the echo of promises they once made beneath winter streetlights.
Other Ways to Say: Former sweetheart, Past love
33. Break someone’s heart
Meaning: To cause someone deep emotional pain by ending or betraying a relationship.
In a Sentence: The farewell text, sent without warning on a stormy evening, broke Jordan’s heart so thoroughly that every subsequent thunderclap sounded like an echo of the moment his world cracked open.
Other Ways to Say: Shatter someone’s feelings, Devastate
34. Mend a broken heart
Meaning: To recover emotionally after a painful breakup.
In a Sentence: Weekend hikes, new recipes, and late‑night laughter with friends gradually helped Tessa mend her broken heart, stitching hope into the spaces where sorrow once lived.
Other Ways to Say: Heal emotionally, Patch things up inside
35. Kiss and make up
Meaning: To reconcile after an argument.
In a Sentence: After a tense disagreement about vacation plans, they finally kissed and made up over melting gelato, realizing the flavor of forgiveness was sweeter than any Italian dessert.
Other Ways to Say: Bury the hatchet, Make peace
36. On the rocks
Meaning: Experiencing serious difficulties that threaten a relationship.
In a Sentence: Their once‑storybook romance felt on the rocks as missed calls piled up, yet both hoped the tide would turn before the cliffside café where they first met closed for the season.
Other Ways to Say: In trouble, At a breaking point
37. Take the plunge
Meaning: To decide, often after hesitation, to get married or enter a serious relationship.
In a Sentence: After five years of sharing tiny apartments, endless playlists, and countless midnight talks about the future, Rae and Devin finally took the plunge, booking a small seaside chapel for next spring.
Other Ways to Say: Commit fully, Say “I do”
38. Settle down
Meaning: To begin living a quieter, more stable life with a long‑term partner.
In a Sentence: Though they once hopped from festival to festival with backpacks and cameras, they eventually settled down in a sunlit cottage, turning their travel stories into bedtime tales for their twins.
Other Ways to Say: Put down roots, Start a home together
39. Whisper sweet nothings
Meaning: To murmur affectionate or romantic words to someone.
In a Sentence: Under the soft hum of the planetarium’s star projector, Sasha whispered sweet nothings in Jordan’s ear, each promise twinkling like a distant constellation only they could see.
Other Ways to Say: Murmur endearments, Speak tender words
40. Love me, love my dog
Meaning: If you love someone, you must accept everything about them, including their quirks and attachments.
In a Sentence: “Love me, love my dog,” Quinn joked, watching with delight as Avery willingly brushed the shaggy terrier that came as part of the relationship package.
Other Ways to Say: Take the whole package, Accept me as I am
41. Break up
Meaning: To end a romantic relationship.
In a Sentence: The decision to break up felt like closing a beloved novel halfway through, but both agreed the chapters ahead would be better written on separate pages.
Other Ways to Say: Part ways, Call it quits
42. Double date
Meaning: An outing where two couples socialize together.
In a Sentence: Their awkward silences vanished on the double date to the escape room, where solving riddles side by side sparked inside jokes that lasted long after the final lock clicked open.
Other Ways to Say: Couples’ night, Paired outing
43. Heart goes pitter‑patter
Meaning: To feel rapid, excited heartbeats because of love or anticipation.
In a Sentence: Whenever the doorbell chimed at dusk, Amara’s heart went pitter‑patter, hoping each ring signaled Arjun’s return from work with that shy, lopsided grin.
Other Ways to Say: Heart races, Feel fluttery
44. Lovelorn
Meaning: Unhappy because of unrequited or lost love.
In a Sentence: Lovelorn and sleepless, Mateo filled pages of his journal with moonlit sketches of the café where his summer romance had begun and, all too soon, ended.
Other Ways to Say: Heart‑sick, Love‑struck and sad
45. Blind date
Meaning: A romantic meeting between two people who have not previously met in person.
In a Sentence: Nervous yet hopeful, Lina agreed to a blind date arranged by her cousin, never guessing that the stranger with the sunflower tie would soon share her Sunday mornings and her favorite window seat at the library.
Other Ways to Say: Unseen meetup, Mystery date
Exercise to Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct idioms:
- After years of traveling, they decided to _______ down and buy a tiny farmhouse near the coast.
- Theo’s heart went _______‑patter the instant he saw Camille step onto the dance floor.
- Nervous but determined, Erin took the _______ and proposed during their hike at sunrise.
- If you want to date Kai, remember it’s _______ me, love my dog—his beagle comes first!
- They finally agreed to _______ up, realizing their goals no longer aligned.
- Nia felt _______ when her longtime crush started dating someone else.
- Maya whispered _______ nothings to calm Noah before his big presentation.
- The two couples planned a _______ date to the outdoor movie night.
- Despite never meeting before, their _______ date at the art exhibit turned into a three‑hour conversation.
- After all the hesitation, he asked her out, and they immediately _______ it off.
Answers:
settle, pitter, plunge, love, break, lovelorn, sweet, double, blind, hit
Conclusion
Love idioms capture the thrills, spills, and lifelong chills of romance in just a few vivid words, turning everyday conversations into miniature love stories. By practicing these phrases—whether you’re describing butterflies in your stomach, a heartbreak to mend, or the joy of finding a soulmate—you’ll enrich your vocabulary and express your feelings with flair. Keep listening for these expressions in songs, films, and chats with friends, and don’t be shy about using them yourself. After all, language—like love—grows deeper and more delightful the more you share it.
