honeymoon

Meanings

Noun

• The period of time immediately following a marriage.
• A trip taken by a newly married couple during this period.
• A 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).

Verb

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

Origin

• From , but the original metaphorical idea is uncertain. Perhaps a cynical comparison of a full moon to the love of a newly married couple, which starts out sweet (as honey) but then wanes (16th century), later coming to mean the first month (i.e. "moon") after marriage.