It’s nearly Valentine’s day and love is in the air at Oxford House. We’ll soon be surrounded by heart-shaped balloons, boxes of chocolates and Valentine’s day cards from our secret crushes (at least, we hope so!).

We thought we would join in the spirit of this lovey-dovey occasion and share 10 excellent love-related expressions so you can impress your Valentine this year.

1. To fall in love

It’s rather sweet, but “to fall in love” is one of the most common expressions in English. We usually use it to explain that we have strong feelings for another person – but it can be used for things too.

“I totally fell in love with the doughnuts at Krispy Kremes. We have to go back.”

2. Love at first sight

Your eyes met across a crowded room and you know that instant you would be together forever.

This is a very common idiom that expresses that one person (or both people) see each other and fall in love immediately. There are lots of romantic stories that start out this way – but just as many that don’t! So don’t worry if you didn’t love your partner right away!

“When I first saw my girlfriend at the paintball arena, it was love at first sight. She took off her goggles and shot me in the head. We’ve been together ever since.

3. Unrequited love

Unrequited love is when one person falls in love with someone, but that person doesn’t love them back. Many people say that unrequited love is one of the most painful things you can experience! So we hope that your feelings are reciprocated this year!

“I bought him his favourite Xbox game for his birthday, I told him I like his new hair (when everyone else hates it) – and he just ignores me! This is unrequited love and I feel terrible.”

4. Love is blind

We say love is blind – and it means that we care about someone so much we don’t see their faults. Sometimes it also means that we love someone so much that we don’t notice when they are doing something wrong!

“That guy Gary is a total idiot. I don’t understand what Melissa sees in him.”

“Yeah, well, they say love is blind.”

5. To be head over heels in love

Being head over heels in love means to be completely, utterly, without question in love with someone. It’s an amazing feeling – the sun is always out the sky is a brilliant blue – and even if it is raining you don’t care because everything is PERFECT!

“I’m head over heels in love with Marta from accounts. Even the way she stamps the payslips is cute.”

6. Three little words

I

Love

You

When someone talks about the ‘three little words’ – they’re talking about “I love you”. It’s funny, because even if they are little, they are very powerful. Can you remember the last time you said those words to someone?

“Oh my gosh, he did it. He said the three little words last night and I am so excited!”

7. To have a crush on someone

You see them around all the time. Perhaps they’re at work, on the bus, or even in your English class. They are cute, they’re funny and you imagine yourself walking off into the sunset together. Yep, that’s right. You’ve got a crush on someone!

“Stop staring at Katy, it’s obvious you have a crush on her!”

8. To tie the knot

I hear wedding bells, I don’t know about you. When someone ties the knot, it means they have got married. That’s it – dating is over forever!

“Jimmy and Kimmie tied the knot last night. Didn’t she look absolutely gorgeous!”

“Yeah, but what did Jimmie have in his hair? He looked like Elvis.”

9. Your better half

This is a very diplomatic way of describing your partner. Your other half is the person who completes you and makes you a better person.

“Let me introduce you to my better half. This is Gertrude.”

10. The apple of your eye

The apple of your eye is the person you care about the most. It doesn’t always refer to your partner (it can be your son or daughter too).

“How sweet, he’s always talking about his girlfriend.”

“Yes, she’s definitely the apple of his eye.”

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Secret crush (n): somebody you like romantically but are afraid to tell.

Lovey-dovey (adj): something that is very romantic and related to love.

Your Valentine (exp): the person you spend Valentine’s Day with.

Crowded (adj): lots of people in one place.

Goggles (n): a type of eye protection.

Reciprocate (v): to do/feel the same way in return.

Faults (n): problems with someone or something.

Stamp (v): to mark something with the information using ink and a rubber die.

Payslip (n): the piece of paper that shows how much you earn at work every month.

Gosh (exp): a polite expression of surprise.

See someone around (exp): to regularly see a person in your day-to-day life.

Wedding bells (exp): the sound that the bells make during a wedding ceremony.

Match (n): two people who like each other.

Key

n = noun

adj = adjective

v = verb

exp = expression

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