shotgun marriage

shotgun marriage
   the marriage of a pregnant bride to the putative father
   The man is supposed to have come to the altar or register office under duress. Also as shotgun wedding:
    Princess Caroline of Monaco is finding it impossible to secure an annulment of her 1978 marriage... made even more difficult following a shotgun marriage last December to Italian Stefano Casiraghi. {Private Eye, August 1984)
   Shotgun is used of other precipitate action taken under duress:
    He understood only too well that my father was acting against all his personal inclination under the duress of a shot-gun Coalition caused by Lord Fisher's desertion. (V. B. Carter, 1965 — her father was the British prime minister, H. H. Asquith)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • shotgun marriage — A shotgun marriage, or shotgun wedding, is one that is forced because of pregnancy. It is also used idiomatically for a compromise, agreement or arrangement that is forced upon groups or people by necessity …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • shotgun marriage — (also shotgun wedding) ► NOUN informal ▪ an enforced or hurried wedding, especially because the bride is pregnant …   English terms dictionary

  • shotgun marriage — noun a) A marriage beginning with (resulting from) a shotgun wedding. Others explained that a forced marriage was likely to end in an early divorce, so that the child would suffer more in a shotgun marriage than if born out of wedlock. b) A… …   Wiktionary

  • shotgun marriage — noun or shotgun wedding 1. : a marriage forced or required because of pregnancy 2. : a forced union or accord between two groups or elements * * * ˌshotgun ˈwedding [shotgun wedding] ( …   Useful english dictionary

  • shotgun\ marriage — Usually a marriage when the bride is pregnant under threat. A forced marriage. Andrew, you and Wilhelmina will have a shotgun marriage if ya try that again, ya hear! …   Dictionary of american slang

  • shotgun\ marriage — Usually a marriage when the bride is pregnant under threat. A forced marriage. Andrew, you and Wilhelmina will have a shotgun marriage if ya try that again, ya hear! …   Dictionary of american slang

  • shotgun marriage —    A shotgun marriage, or shotgun wedding, is one that is forced because of pregnancy. It is also used idiomatically for a compromise, agreement or arrangement that is forced upon groups or people by necessity.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • shotgun marriage — noun Date: 1929 1. a marriage forced or required because of pregnancy called also shotgun wedding 2. a forced union < a spate of brokerage mergers…hastily arranged shotgun marriages John Brooks > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • shotgun marriage — (also shotgun wedding) noun informal an enforced or hurried wedding, especially because the bride is pregnant …   English new terms dictionary

  • shotgun wedding — noun see shotgun marriage * * * 1. a wedding occasioned or precipitated by pregnancy. 2. Informal. a compromise, merger, accord, etc., occasioned by necessity: The coalition government was obviously a shotgun wedding. Also, shotgun marriage.… …   Useful english dictionary

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