when a scot ties the knot

The phrase "When a Scot ties the knot" is primarily known as the title of a historical romance novel by Tessa Dare, released on August 25, 2015. In this novel, "ties the knot" refers to getting married. The story features a shy Englishwoman who invents a Scottish fiancé to avoid societal pressures, only to later encounter the real Scottish captain she had imagined, leading to an unexpected marriage. The expression "tie the knot" itself meaning to get married dates back to at least 1717 and is even referenced in early Shakespeare, indicating it is a historical phrase that conveys the act of marriage or binding oneself in matrimony. In the context of the novel, "When a Scot ties the knot" literally means the Scottish man getting married, which ties in with the narrative of arranged or convenient marriage turning into true love. So, "when a Scot ties the knot" means when a Scottish man gets married, but it is also popularly recognized today because of the romance novel that uses this phrase as a title.