Idioms

elope

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elope to Gretna Green

To travel somewhere else in order to take advantage of that place's liberal marriage laws. (Gretna Green, a Scottish town on the border between Scotland and England, became a popular wedding destination after the 1754 Marriage Act required parental consent for couples under the age of 21 to get married in England and Wales.) Primarily heard in UK. Did Aunt Barbara and Uncle Al really elope to Gretna Green when they were 18? If your parents don't approve of us getting married, then we should just elope to Gretna Green. Yes, I do want to marry you, but we can't elope to Gretna Green! For starters, my parents will disown me!
See also: elope, green, to

elope with (someone)

To marry someone suddenly and secretively. I wish I could just elope with my fiancé, but my family is insistent that I have a big wedding. Did Uncle Al really elope with Aunt Barbara when they were just 18? You know, the more you disapprove of her boyfriend, the more you're motivating her to elope with him.
See also: elope
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

elope with someone

to sneak away with someone and get married without much ceremony. Sally eloped with Tom, and everyone was surprised. I don't want to elope with Juan. I want a church wedding.
See also: elope
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
See also:
References in periodicals archive
If I had my way, I would run away and elope somewhere.
Poverty is also blamed for girls' bid to elope with men.
"Sadly she had a major stroke last year and can't travel if they do elope. Basically Jen has to choose between her mum and her dream wedding."
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Sep 5 ( ANI ): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ram Kadam has issued a clarification on his 'elope' remark and said that his statement was quoted out of context.
The car dealer left Albert Square five years ago when wife Peggy discovered his plans to elope with lover Pat.
Summary: Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 29 (ANI): The Uttar Pradesh police on Tuesday said that a 15-year-old girl had allegedly committed suicide by setting herself ablaze in Muzaffarnagar's Shahpur area when her lover refused to elope.
Brooke Vincent, who plays Sophie, tells us about her plans to elope with Sian ?
NOT that many of us really care, but latest reports are that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are planning to elope.
Theroux is said to be keen on a ceremony back in Hollywood but the 'Friends' star, 43, is keen to elope.
Washington, Oct 5 (ANI): Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has said that she would ''elope'' with her husband Kris Humphries if she could ever re-live her wedding day because she found the lavish nuptials ''so stressful''.
London, Mar 29 (ANI): Singer Jessica Simpson has revealed that she wants to have a low-key wedding with her NFL fiance Eric Johnson and that they might even elope.
They had to elope since the society would not have accepted their relationship," Pal said.
London, July 02 (ANI): Australian singer Kylie Minogue has told her parents not to expect a lavish wedding if she ever marries, insisting that she would 'elope and do it really quietly'.
Gardai had launched a massive search after a 25-year-old African tried to elope with innocent Stephanie Domingos.
Washington, May 16 (ANI): Anna Faris is drawing plans to elope to stay away from the fuss of a huge wedding.
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