- Meaning
- This idiom describes getting married, formalizing a romantic commitment through a wedding ceremony, as if tying a knot to bind two people together in a lasting bond. It conveys a joyful or significant union, often used in personal, romantic, or celebratory contexts to highlight the act of marriage with a sense of permanence or festivity. The phrase carries a tone of warmth, excitement, or solemnity, reflecting cultural celebration of marriage and the human desire for lifelong partnership. It resonates in discussions of love and commitment, capturing the emotional and symbolic weight of joining lives, and its nautical or ceremonial imagery adds a layer of timeless romance, evoking a knot’s unbreakable tie. The idiom often celebrates a milestone, making it a cherished metaphor for love’s enduring connection.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in ancient traditions, where tying knots symbolized binding agreements or unions, as seen in Celtic handfasting or Hindu wedding rituals. Its English use emerged in the 13th century, reflecting medieval marriage customs, with an early appearance in John Gower’s 1390 *Confessio Amantis*: ‘They tied the knot of love.’ The idiom gained traction in the 16th century, as seen in William Shakespeare’s *Othello* (1603), which uses knot imagery for marriage. Its use grew in 19th-century British and American literature, particularly in romantic and societal narratives, with Jane Austen’s *Pride and Prejudice* (1813) emphasizing matrimonial bonds. The phrase’s adoption was amplified in the 20th century through media, notably in wedding announcements and films like *Father of the Bride* (1950). Its spread to Commonwealth English came through British influence, and its vivid imagery, evoking a binding knot, and its applicability to marriage ensured its enduring use across English-speaking cultures, from proposals to wedding toasts.
- Variants
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- Tie the knot
- Tying the knot
- Tied the knot
- Get hitched
- Examples
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- They’re planning to tie the knot next summer in a beach ceremony.
- Tying the knot after years together, they celebrated with family.
- Tied the knot, the couple shared their vows under the stars.
- Get hitched, they did, in a quiet courthouse wedding.
- She’s excited to tie the knot with her high school sweetheart.
- Tying the knot, they invited everyone to their lavish reception.
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