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marry off

B2 informal separable transitive

To arrange or manage the marriage of someone, often a child, usually with the implication of eagerness or self-interest.

In plain English

Find someone a husband or wife — usually a parent doing this for their child.

What does "marry off" mean?

One main meaning — here's how to use it.

1 B2 idiomatic informal

To find a marriage partner for someone, especially a child, and arrange or push for the marriage to happen.

"Her parents were desperate to marry her off before she turned thirty."

He had three daughters to marry off and a modest fortune to do it with.

— Paraphrase of a common narrative trope in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813)
separable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To marry someone 'off' — the particle 'off' suggests sending them away or disposing of the responsibility.

Actually means

Find someone a husband or wife — usually a parent doing this for their child.

Usage tip

Often implies that the person being married off has limited say in the matter, or that the parent or guardian is eager to be rid of the responsibility. Can be used humorously or critically. Common in historical and cultural discussions of arranged marriages.

Words that pair with "marry off"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

daughter son child quickly well wealthy

How to conjugate "marry off"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base
marry off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
marries off
he/she/it
Past simple
married off
yesterday
Past participle
married off
have + pp
-ing form
marrying off
continuous

Hear "marry off" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "marry off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "marry off"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

arrange a marriage for find a match for get rid of by marriage wed off

Keep exploring

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