honeymoon

plural honeymoons

1. The period of time immediately following a marriage.

   The new minister and his wife were a young, pleasant-faced couple, still on their honeymoon, and full of all good and beautiful enthusiasms for their chosen lifework.

   1908 June, L[ucy] M[aud] Montgomery, “Chapter XXII: A New Departure in Flavorings”, in Anne of Green Gables, Boston, Mass.: L[ouis] C[oues] Page & Company, →OCLC

2. A trip taken by a newly married couple during this period.

   We went to Greece for our honeymoon.

   1 more example

   I will say, 'Sir, I am going to marry your daughter. Be silent, sir! I have decided to do this and I will not be balked by a gouty old father-in-law. I want you to understand that from now on I am the master of this house. You may write out a check for ten thousand dollars for our honeymoon.'

   1923, Robert Ervin Howard, Unhand Me, Villain: A Romance

   Synonyms: wedding journey

3. broadlyA period of goodwill at the beginning of a new term or relationship (e.g. towards a newly elected politician or in respect of a new business arrangement).

   The honeymoon period came to a swift end when the legislation was introduced.

   4 more examples

   Now that the honeymoon is over, it’s time for us to get down to the business at hand.

   But the “honeymoon” was short. The propertied classes wanted merely a political revolution, which would take the power from the Tsar and give it to them. They wanted Russia to be a constitutional Republic, like France or the United States; or a constitutional Monarchy, like England. On the other hand, the masses of the people wanted real industrial and agrarian democracy.

   1919, John Reed, Ten Days That Shook the World

   It was here, surrounded by such friends, that the distinguished Chief Justice swore me in as Vice President on December 6, 1973. It was here I returned 8 months later as your President to ask not for a honeymoon, but for a good marriage.

   1977 January 12, Gerald Ford, Ford's farewell address

   It suggests any honeymoon for the new government is over, with falls in approval ratings across the board for the senior figures in the cabinet.

   2024 September 21, Michael Savage, “Honeymoon over: Keir Starmer now less popular than Rishi Sunak”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

present singular third person honeymoons · participle present honeymooning · participle past honeymooned · past honeymooned

1. To have a honeymoon (a trip taken by a couple after wedding).

   My parents honeymooned at Niagara falls.

   1 more example

   No sooner were they married than Dick fitted out his schooner, the All Away, and away the blessed pair of them went, honeymooning from Bordeaux to Hongkong.

   1916, Jack London, chapter XVIII, in The Little Lady of the Big House