# Proposing Marriage

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposing-marriage/712728>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 15, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposing-marriage/712728 "2015-02-15T16:23:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposing-marriage/712728/1 "2015-02-15T16:23:13Z")

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Why is it traditional for men to get down on one knee to propose marriage? Is the man begging the women to marry him? Where does this tradition come from, and does it only occur in certain cultures?

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**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposing-marriage/712728/2 "2015-02-15T17:13:31Z")

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> [@dolphinboy](#):
>
> Is the man begging the women to marry him?

That has always been my understanding. Not begging in the sense that she has already said No, but in the sense of “Please! pretty please! this is really important! I really want YOU”

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**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposing-marriage/712728/3 "2015-02-15T17:26:22Z")

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pretty please with a bowl of sugar and a cherry on top.

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**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposing-marriage/712728/4 "2015-02-15T17:31:11Z")

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Okay, then why not get down on both knees and grovel? Why one knee?

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**Author:** ![Loch\_Raven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Loch\_Raven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loch_Raven)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposing-marriage/712728/5 "2015-02-15T17:44:31Z")

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> [@dolphinboy](#):
>
> Okay, then why not get down on both knees and grovel? Why one knee?

Because you need one hand free to hold the ring out for her.

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**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposing-marriage/712728/6 "2015-02-15T17:51:15Z")

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Oh come on… Two knees would just be silly; one has style.

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**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposing-marriage/712728/7 "2015-02-15T18:13:18Z")

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I can tell you it only exists in some cultures, yes. In Spain anybody doing it has watched too many American movies.