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You are here: Home / Language / What Does the Phrase “Tie the Knot” Mean and Where Did the Expression Come From?

What Does the Phrase “Tie the Knot” Mean and Where Did the Expression Come From?

July 20, 2020 by Karen Hill

In Western culture, “tying the knot” suggests the pledge of inseparable unity made by a married couple.

The expression comes from ancient India, when during the wedding ceremony the Hindu groom would put a brightly colored ribbon around the bride’s neck.

During the time it took to tie the ribbon into a knot, the bride’s father could demand a better price for his daughter, but once the knot was completed the bride became the groom’s forever.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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