In modern times, the so-called "sex between fish and water" refers to the love between men and women, and the intimate relationship between fish and water is used to describe the affairs between men and women. Words with the same purpose include glue and paint, sex.

The joy of sex comes from the second book of The West Chamber: "When I get to my bedroom, I will take off my clothes with my sister, and I will be in harmony with the joy of sex, which will help me to fly."