seven-year itch
Spouse's wandering eye
The seven-year itch is restlessness or dissatisfaction said to afflict people around the seventh year of marriage, often manifesting as the temptation to have an affair.
The phrase was popularized by the 1955 Marilyn Monroe film.
More loosely, it describes any urge to make a change after a long period of stability: After seven years at the company, he was feeling the seven-year itch.
Disloyalty to a partner
- divorceLegal end of matrimony
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- spouseMarried partner
commitment · matrimony · counseling · monogamy · vows · anniversary · relationship · partnership
Diminished reaction over time
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
- restlessnessState of unease
- satiationState of complete fulfillment
- discontentUnhappiness with circumstances
novelty-seeking · routine · monotony · desensitization · ennui · malaise · dissatisfaction · complacency
Intense wanting
- flirtationPlayful romantic attention
- attractionPull toward something
- allureAttractive, tempting quality
- seductionEnticing someone romantically
lure · enticement · longing · fantasy · lust · forbidden · straying · cheating
Fifth American president
Traditional explanatory tale
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
- adageTraditional pithy truth
- apocryphalUnverified and probably untrue
infidelity
Disloyalty to a partner
- divorceLegal end of matrimony
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
spouse · commitment · matrimony · counseling · monogamy · vows · anniversary · relationship · partnership · union
habituation
Diminished reaction over time
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
- restlessnessState of unease
- satiationState of complete fulfillment
discontent · novelty-seeking · routine · monotony · desensitization · ennui · malaise · dissatisfaction · complacency · stagnation
desire
Intense wanting
- flirtationPlayful romantic attention
- attractionPull toward something
- allureAttractive, tempting quality
seduction · lure · enticement · longing · fantasy · lust · forbidden · straying · cheating · dalliance
Monroe
Fifth American president
myth
Traditional explanatory tale
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
- adageTraditional pithy truth
- apocryphalUnverified and probably untrue
seven-year itchmarital bliss
Happiness within wedlock
wedded bliss · marital harmony · till death do us part · happily ever after · marital devotion
seven-year itchhoneymoon phase
Initial period of idealization
honeymoon period · puppy love · infatuation · wedding bells · lovebirds
seven, year, itch, years, yearly, itchy, itching, itched, itches