seven-year itch

the seven-year itch

The supposed inclination of a person, typically a man, to begin longing for sexual relations with other people after seven years of marriage. Everyone warned me about the seven-year itch, but I've been completely content with my wife every second that we've been together. A: "I heard Jack has been having an affair with a bartender from across town." B: "Hmm, sounds like the seven-year itch to me."
See also: itch
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

seven-year itch

a real or imagined longing for other women in a man's seventh year of marriage. Looks like Jack has the seven-year itch. The seven-year itch is just a rumor.
See also: itch
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

the seven year ˈitch

(informal) the wish for a new sexual partner because you are bored with your husband or wife: He’s started looking at all the women in the office. It must be the seven year itch.
See also: itch, seven, year
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

seven-year itch

n. a real or imagined longing for other women in a man’s seventh year of marriage. Looks like Jack has the seven-year itch.
See also: itch
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

seven-year itch

A yearning for change, specifically a change of sexual partner after seven years of marriage. This expression gained currency through George Axelrod’s play The Seven-Year Itch (1952), later made into a movie starring Marilyn Monroe (1955). Originally the phrase was used for various skin conditions. One such use was for poison ivy, in the belief that the rash would recur every year for seven years. Also, centuries ago itch was a slang word for “sexual desire.” Today, the expression invariably refers to the wish for a new sexual partner and, for some reason, tends to be applied only to men. Thus Patricia Moyes wrote, “There’s something called the seven-year itch . . . middle-aged men quite suddenly cutting loose” (Angel of Death, 1980).
See also: itch
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • the seven year itch
  • the seven-year itch
  • any (one) worth (one's) salt
  • young man
  • keel over
  • round heels
  • walk it off
  • walk off
  • have half a mind to (do something)
References in periodicals archive
Looking out for the other person's best interest are potent weapons in any couple's battle against the seven-year itch. Another safeguard is spending time together as a couple without the kids, because couples will still be together after the children have grown up and moved out.
How couples beat the seven-year itch
The seven-year itch got its name from the Marilyn Monroe film of the same name, made back in the 1950s, and referred to the idea that cheating becomes impossible to resist after just seven years.
'Forget 7-year itch, couples more likely to split after 12 years'
FORGET the seven-year itch - today's marriages are more likely to be threatened by a 14-YEAR hitch.
THE 14-YEAR ITCH; It's the time when marriages really run out of steam
One expert said: "It used to be said that seven years was the dangerous period giving us the so-called seven-year itch, simply because the excitement was gone but the closeness of long intimacy hadn't quite arrived.
THE 18-YEAR HITCH; ..that's when Ulster couples are most likely to divorce
WE'VE been married for nearly seven years and get on well, but I wonder if there's really such a thing as a seven-year itch. If so, what can you do to prevent it?
LOVE BY NUMBERS; REVEALING THE SCIENCE BEHIND ROMANCE
They include items from legendary movies like Gone With The Wind, Sunset Boulevard, Ben Hur, Wizard Of Oz, Seven-Year Itch and Titanic.
HOLLYWOOD FOR SALE; 1/2 m for Judy Garland slippers
Pals have warned Cowell of the seven-year itch, which all marriages suffer, and the seven-year hitch, which is what his trousers suffered.
Cowell's star role in the hitch factor; RESULT!
DAVID ROWSON has endured a seven-year itch in the Cup and reckons it is due him a huge slice of luck.
ROWSONPRAYS FOR BIT OF LUCK; SCOTTISH CUP CRUNCH..
THE championship flag flies over The Oval after a seven-year itch - Glentoran are winners with a week to spare.
Football: Glentoran champions
THE seven-year itch often gets the blame for the breakdown of a marriage.
Your LIFE: The FIVE year itch; TALKING POINT IS IT THE NEW CRISIS POINT FOR COUPLES?
SHOTSTOPPER Alan Main is desperate to cure his seven-year itch for a Scotland cap.
FOOTBALL: I want an end to seven-year itch for a cap
GARY MCSHEFFREY will scratch a seven-year itch when he plays for Birmingham in Sunday's Barclays Premier League opener against Chelsea.
Football: Macca itching for another Premier chance
COUPLES no longer need to worry about the seven-year itch.
BREAK WITH THE PAST
Dear Miriam IS there such a thing as the seven-year itch? I'm no longer happy in my relationship and don't know why.
Dear MIRIAM: My seven year itch
It's been a seven-year itch for fans of the man recently named by NME as the most influential artist in rock history.
GO:ROCK:MORRISSEY IS GUNNING FOR A COMEBACK