for better or worse
Whatever may happen
For better or worse acknowledges that something will happen or remain true regardless of the outcome—whether favorable or not.
The phrase often signals acceptance of uncertainty or commitment despite risks: For better or worse, we've made our decision.
It appears in traditional marriage vows as part of the promise to stay together through good times and bad.
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- promiseCommitment to act
- till death do us partMatrimonial permanence oath
- vowSolemn personal commitment
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
union · partnership · take the plunge · leap of faith · rain or shine · no matter what · long haul · perseverance · come what may · bond · trust · acceptance · warts and all · through thick and thin · marriage · loyalty · for keeps · devotion
- Marriage Sayingshappy wife happy life, til death do us part, ball and chain, wedded bliss, honeymoon phase
- loyaltyloyalty, devotion, loyal, faithfulness, fidelity
- pledgesvow, promise, I promise, wedding vows, I vow
- perseverancepersist, never give up, tenacity, hang in there, endurance
- conjunctionsand, but, or, for, nor
for better or worseconditionally
With requirements attached
if and only if · fair-weather · only if · contingent upon · subject to change
for better or worseselectively
With careful choosing
noncommittally · hedging one's bets · keeping options open · cherry-picking · tentatively
better, worse, forbidden, worsen, worsening, forbearance, betterment, foreseeable, bettering