Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve

9.9

A slogan saying relationships should be only between a man and a woman, often used to oppose same-sex marriage

idiom

Slur

: Adán y Eva, no Adán y Steve

Some protest signs read Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve, sparking controversy at the event.

Examples

Don't you think Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve is a narrow view?
The politician repeated Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve during the heated debate on marriage laws.
He used the phrase Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve to argue against changes in traditional marriage legislation.
Many people believe in the saying Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.
The protester held a sign that read Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve to express his traditional views on marriage.
During the rally, several speakers invoked Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve to underscore their opposition to same-sex marriage.
In her speech, she emphasized Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve as a way to highlight her beliefs about family structure.

Surface Forms

Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve main

Morphology

Adam + and + Eve, + not + Adam + and + Steve

The individual words are transparent, and the contrast between the well-known pair 'Adam and Eve' and the unlikely pairing 'Adam and Steve' plus 'not' can allow a learner to infer an opposition to same-sex pairing. However, the expression relies on cultural and ideological background (biblical reference and sociopolitical slogan use) for its full implicature and evaluative meaning, so the exact stance and connotations are not fully predictable from the parts alone.

Etymology

Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve comes from the Bible story of Adam and Eve, and people changed 'Eve' to rhyme with Steve, making Adam and Steve a short, catchy saying. That's why the phrase is used to say only 'man-and-woman' relationships are acceptable and to argue against 'same-sex' relationships.