seek parental blessing

Meaning

To formally ask for the approval, support, or permission of a partner's parents before getting married. This is a traditional and respectful gesture practiced in many cultures around the world.

Examples

• Before proposing, he traveled to her hometown to seek her father's parental blessing.

  Before proposing, he traveled to her hometown to seek her father's parental blessing.

• Many modern couples still choose to seek parental blessing out of respect for tradition.

  Many modern couples still choose to seek parental blessing out of respect for tradition.

• They decided to marry even though they failed to seek parental blessing beforehand.

  They decided to marry even though they failed to seek parental blessing beforehand.

• Seeking parental blessing can help build a harmonious relationship with your future in-laws.

  Seeking parental blessing can help build a harmonious relationship with your future in-laws.

• He felt it was his duty to seek parental blessing before buying the engagement ring.

  He felt it was his duty to seek parental blessing before buying the engagement ring.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He went to search parental blessing.

  ✓ He went to seek parental blessing.

  'Seek' is the correct, formal collocation used for asking for approval or permission. 'Search' means to look for a physical object.

• ✗ They sought for parental blessing.

  ✓ They sought parental blessing.

  The verb 'seek' (past tense 'sought') is a transitive verb here and does not require the preposition 'for' when asking for a blessing.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Although it is an old-fashioned tradition, he still wanted to ___ before proposing.

  💡 Ask the parents for approval

  Show answer

  seek parental blessing

• They knew they didn't need to ___ , but they did it to show respect.

  💡 Ask for the family's permission

  Show answer

  seek parental blessing