The theme of love has appeared in art, music, and writing for thousands of years. It’s a popular topic of conversation in English too, so it’s no surprise that there are so many idioms about relationships and love. 

There are idioms about every stage of romantic relationships, from puppy love to wedding bells! So here are 10 of our favorite idioms about relationships, love, and dating to get you started.

Idioms for someone special

1. To have a crush on someone

This slang expression originated in the US, but has become popular everywhere. It’s quite a teenage feeling and not very serious. A crush might only last a few days—or until you speak to the person and realize that actually, they’re not that special! 

“To crush” something usually means to squeeze or press something so hard that it breaks—which sounds quite negative! But that’s the thing about idioms: they mean much more than their literal translations. 

E.g. I have such a crush on the new guy at work. I go red when he talks to me.

2. To have a soft spot for someone

Your soft spot is your heart and your feelings. So, when you have a soft spot for someone, it means that you care for them.  However, this idiom isn’t always used in a romantic sense. It can also be used to talk about a special friend, a favorite family member, or even a coworker that you have a close relationship with! 

E.g. I’ve always had a soft spot for Mary and she knows it.

3. To be my type (on paper)

Your “type” refers to the kind of person you are attracted to. For example, if you are consistently attracted to tall people with dark hair and a good sense of humor, then that is your “type”. 

Your “type on paper” means that although in theory, you like this type of person, it really depends how you feel when you know them better. The idiom became very popular thanks to the UK reality TV show Love Island.

E.g. He seems like your type, doesn’t he? 

       He’s my type on paper, so I’m excited to get to know him. 

4. My other half

When you say someone is your other half, you mean you share so much of your life with them that it’s like you’re one person instead of two. Sometimes people say “my better half” as a joke too. It’s quite common but some people don’t like the idea. They prefer to think of themselves as a whole person, not half a person just because they’re in a relationship. So, maybe check what your partner’s reaction is if you say it!

E.g. My other half is at home looking after the kids.

Idioms for dating

5. To go on a blind date

A blind date is different from a regular date because it’s with someone you’ve never met before. The date’s probably been organized by someone who knows both of you and thinks you might like each other. Surprisingly, even if you’ve seen a picture of your date, it’s still a blind date!

E.g. I’m going on a blind date with my sister’s friend from university.

6. Netflix and chill

This is a really modern idiom about relationships. It didn’t even exist before Netflix became popular! It means spending private time with someone with Netflix playing in the background. If someone invites you to Netflix and chill, they don’t really mean they want to watch Netflix. So expect the evening to get romantic! 

E.g. It’s our fourth date so I’m just planning a little Netflix and chill.

Idioms for relationships and love

7. To be head over heels (in love) with someone

If you know the phrase “to fall in love,” this idiom makes sense. When you fall over, your head goes down and your feet go up in the air. So when you are “head over heels” with someone, it means you’ve fallen completely in love.

E.g. I’ve never seen two people so in love. They’re head over heels with each other. 

8. Love at first sight

Real romantics believe you can fall in love with someone in the first moment you see them, before you even speak to each other. Other people would call that lust—strong physical attraction—not love. Until it happens to them, that is! Do you believe in this idiom about love?

E.g.  Was it love at first sight?

        Yes, I knew the moment I saw him. 

9. A match made in heaven

We use this expression when two people seem perfect for each other. It might be because they’re so similar, or maybe they share the same interests or personalities. Or they match because they complement each other. For example, if one person is very sociable and the other person is quiet, they could be a good match because they encourage each other to try new ways of doing things.

E.g. My mom and dad are a match made in heaven! 

10. To drop the L bomb

What do you think the L stands for in L bomb? If you guessed “love”, you’re right! To drop the L bomb means to say “I love you” for the first time in a new relationship. It can be a scary thing to say, and it changes everything—a bit like dropping a little bomb in someone’s life. Sometimes people use this love idiom to make the big moment a bit less intense or awkward. 

E.g. I can’t believe you dropped the L-bomb so soon!

Practice the language of love

Love is such a big topic that this list is just a tiny example of relationship vocabulary and idioms. From Shakespeare’s plays to modern movies and songs today, love is a common theme, and there are always new ways to talk about it! 

Whether you want to ask your crush out on a date, or have a romantic time with your other half, there’s a short ELSA course on the app to help you practice lots of English vocabulary about dating, love, and relationships! 

And if you just want to practice your speaking before an important conversation (maybe one about love!), ELSA’s speech analyzer will help you improve your speaking fluency and pronunciation.