pop the question

Cultural  

1. To “pop the question” is to propose marriage: “They have been going out for so long; I wonder when he'll pop the question.”

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pop the question Idioms  

1. Propose marriage, as in He picked Valentine's Day to pop the question. [Early 1700s]

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Example Sentences

The luxury marriage proposal business is booming in Paris with international clients happy to pay thousands to pop the question in the most romantic way possible in the City of Love.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

To pop the question he designed a homemade escape room, which is one of their favourite things to do together.

From BBC • Dec. 3, 2025

One of the guys proposing to his partner took about two minutes to pop the question, according to Sheeran.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

During February, about 10 patrons pop the question each week.

From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2023

I figured I’d see Celia in school and pop the question.

From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers