marriage

an open marriage

a marriage in which the partners are free to have sexual relationships with other people. We have an open marriage, but I never tell my husband about my other lovers.

See also: open

a marriage/match made in heaven

1. a marriage which is likely to be happy and successful because the two people are very well suited to each other. Jane and Pete had exactly the same likes and interests - it was a marriage made in heaven.

2. a combination of two things or two people which is very successful. Strawberries and cream are a marriage made in heaven.

See also: heaven, made, match

a shotgun wedding (British, American & Australian, old-fashioned, American, old-fashioned)

a marriage that is arranged very quickly because the woman is going to have a baby. After a shotgun wedding at 20, she had 3 children before divorcing from her husband.

See also: wedding

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a marriage made in heaven

a perfect combination of two people or things. He calls the deal between the two companies a marriage made in heaven.

See also: heaven, made