relationship on the rocks

Meaning

1. 1phraseidiominformal

   A romantic relationship that is having serious problems and is likely to fail.

   Grammar: Used after 'be' or 'seem': Their marriage is on the rocks. The phrase is fixed; don't change 'the' to 'a'.

   Patterns

   • be on the rocks
   • a relationship on the rocks
   • a marriage on the rocks

   After ten years together, their relationship is on the rocks.

   She told me her parents' marriage was on the rocks, so they were seeing a counselor.

   The celebrity couple's relationship is on the rocks again, according to the newspapers.

Common combinations

marriage on the rocks

Their marriage is on the rocks, but they're trying to work things out.

relationship is on the rocks

Everyone could tell that their relationship was on the rocks.

on the rocks again

They broke up last year, got back together, and now they're on the rocks again.

put a relationship on the rocks

His constant traveling put their relationship on the rocks.

Synonyms and how they differ

in trouble

More general and can refer to any kind of problem; less specific to romance.

troubled

More formal and can describe a person or situation, not just a relationship.

falling apart

Stronger; it suggests the relationship is almost over.

Opposites

Word family

rocky adjective

Full of problems or difficulties; a rocky relationship is one with many ups and downs.

Commonly confused: relationship on the rocks or on the rocks?

Practice

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