Meaning & use
love handle
Last updated
UK/ˈlʌv ˌhændəl/
US/ˈlʌv ˌhændəl/
Meaning
nouncountableinformalhumorous
A fold of fat around the waist, especially just above the hips.
Grammar: Usually plural, 'love handles', because there are two sides.
Patterns
- have love handles
- get rid of love handles
He's been doing sit-ups to try to lose his love handles.
The new jeans were a bit tight around her love handles.
Many people develop love handles as they get older.
Word forms
| plural | love handles |
|---|
Common combinations
- lose love handles
- She started running to lose her love handles.
- get rid of love handles
- No amount of dieting seemed to get rid of his love handles.
- a bit of a love handle
- He patted his stomach and joked about his bit of a love handle.
- hide love handles
- That loose shirt hides your love handles nicely.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spare tire
- American informal for fat around the whole waist; 'love handles' is specifically at the sides.
- muffin top
- Describes fat that spills over tight waistbands, while 'love handles' are the side folds themselves.
- paunch
- Refers to a large, round belly, usually in men, not the side folds.
Opposites
flat stomachsix-pack
Commonly confused: love handle or love handles?
love handle vs love handles
This is the usual plural form; the singular 'love handle' is rare but exists.
Practice
What does 'love handles' mean?
Choose one answer.
'Love handles' is an informal, slightly humorous term for the folds of fat at the sides of the waist. The other options are literal but wrong in this context.
Make it your own
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