A shotgun wedding Meaning in English

expression · lemma: shotgun wedding

US

ˈeɪ/, /ə/ /ˈʃɑtˌɡən/ /ˈwɛdɪŋ

uh SHOT-gun WED-ing

UK

æɪ/ /ʃˈɒtɡʌn/ /wˈɛdɪŋ

uh SHOT-gun WED-ing

Definition

A marriage that happens quickly because the couple, usually the woman, is pregnant, or because of family or social pressure.

Usage & Nuances

Informal expression often used humorously or critically. Originally, it referred to fathers forcing a marriage with a shotgun if there was an unplanned pregnancy. Now, it may refer to any rushed or pressured marriage, not just for pregnancy. Not usually used in formal writing.

• Spanish: boda forzada - boda apresurada
• Portuguese (BR): casamento forçado - casamento às pressas
• Portuguese (PT): casamento forçado - casamento apressado
• Chinese (Simplified): 奉子成婚 - 被迫结婚
• Chinese (Traditional): 奉子成婚 - 被迫結婚
• Hindi: मजबूरी में शादी - जल्दी में की गई शादी
• Arabic: زواج بالإكراه - زواج سريع
• Bengali: জবরদস্তিতে বিয়ে - বাধ্যতামূলক বিয়ে
• Russian: брак по залёту - вынужденная свадьба
• Japanese: できちゃった婚 - 強制結婚
• Vietnamese: đám cưới chạy bầu - đám cưới ép buộc
• Korean: 속도위반 결혼 - 급하게 치르는 결혼
• Turkish: baskın nikah - zoraki evlilik
• Urdu: زبردستی کی شادی - مجبوری کی شادی
• Indonesian: pernikahan kilat karena kehamilan - pernikahan paksa

Example Sentences

They had a shotgun wedding because she was pregnant.

basic

A shotgun wedding often happens when families do not want a baby born out of marriage.

basic

Their parents arranged a shotgun wedding quickly.

basic

Rumor has it they only tied the knot because it was a shotgun wedding.

natural

After the news broke, both families started planning a shotgun wedding.

natural

Not every quick marriage is a shotgun wedding; sometimes people just move fast.

natural