Love Someone to Death – Meaning, Origin & Usage
If you’ve ever overheard someone say ‘I love you to death’ there’s no need to worry – it doesn’t mean that they want that person to die.
In this article, we’re going to unpack just what is meant by someone saying that they love someone to death. We will also cover how the phrase may have originated, as well as how and when to best use the phrase. Then we’ll top that off with a section on alternative words and phrases that you can choose to use in place of the phrase ‘love someone to death.
And without further ado, let’s get straight to it…
What is the meaning of the phrase ‘love someone to death’?
The phrase ‘love someone to death’ simply means ‘love someone very deeply’.
The phrase can be classed as hyperbole, but what people generally mean when they declare their love in this way is that they love a person so much that it’s so hard to put into words that they’ve used this phrase to encapsulate it. Saying that the love they feel is so powerful that it’s sure to last until the day they die.
This is reminiscent of traditional wedding vows, whereby the pair declare that they will cherish each other until ‘death do us part’.
What is the origin of the phrase ‘love someone to death’?
The precise origin of the phrase ‘love someone to death’ is still unclear. That said, it is likely to have developed from the idea of a love that is so intense and overwhelming that it feels as though it will last right up until a person’s last breath.
How and when can you use the phrase ‘love someone to death’?
It is far more common to hear someone say that they love a person to death, than it is to hear someone say that they love something (as in an object or a topic) to death.
The phrase ‘love someone to death’ is most frequently used in reference to how someone feels about members of their family, especially in the case of their immediate family such as their children or their parents. The phrase is also frequently used in reference to a person’s spouse, whether they are married or not.
It’s a nice phrase to hear someone say of you, and while the best time to say this may be during a marriage proposal or during wedding vows, there is truly never a bad time to tell someone that you love them.
That said however, it’s not recommended to say ‘I love you to death’ to your crush unless you have started dating them, since, if they don’t feel the same you may not necessarily get the sort of response you’d like to hear.
What are some other ways of saying ‘love someone to death’?
If you feel concerned that the person to whom you wish to declare your love might not appreciate hearing the word ‘death’ because of its connotations, then there’s no need to worry, because there’s a vast array of alternative words and phrases that you can use in its place. Here are some examples for you to consider.
- I love you
- I love you so much
- I love you very much
- I love you so very much
- I’ve never felt this way about anybody
- I love you with all my heart
- I love you, mind, body and soul
- There’s no-one else in this world for me but you
- I have never loved anyone the way I love you
- I love you forever
- I’d do anything for you
- There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you
Final word
So, to sum up, the phrase ‘love someone to death’ means to love someone so deeply, that they feel sure that they will continue to feel this way to the day they die. Please don’t be mistaken that the phrase means anything untoward, such as wanting someone to die, because this really is not the case.
The precise origin of the phrase, and the date of origin is yet to be determined, as is who first coined the term, and the date it became popularised and made common parlance.
When the phrase is used to declare love for someone this usually goes down very well, but be sure to only say it to people you love, otherwise you could cause difficulties for yourself and the person/s concerned.
If you decide you don’t want to use the word ‘death’ when you declare your love for someone special, then you have a multitude of alternatives phrases that you can use instead of saying ‘I love you to death’ as covered earlier.
