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 couple shared the happy news Wednesday on Instagram with a video of Knight getting down on one knee to pop the question.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

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

While 27,500 runners were huffing and puffing their way around Sunday's Cardiff Half Marathon, one of them seemingly felt it was a case of perfect timing to pop the question.

From BBC • Oct. 2, 2023

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

From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2023

“Don’t worry. He’s not going to pop the question or anything,” I reply coolly, though my pulse quickens.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed