to be tied to her apron strings
to be controlled by her
TRANSLATION
apron strings = (fig.) die Abhängigkeit apron strings = Schürzenbänder, die Rockzipfel tied to mother's apron strings = an Mutters Rockzipfel hängen --- GOOGLE INDEX apron strings: approximately 750,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
"Indeed, if they are not ready with Scottish policies, they will face defeat at the first Scottish election after independence. It will not then be possible for them to hold on to London’s APRON STRINGS."
(The Scotsman)
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More Young Single Men Hang Onto APRON STRINGS
(New York Times)
(The Scotsman)
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More Young Single Men Hang Onto APRON STRINGS
(New York Times)
Did you
know?
tied to someone's apron strings
idiom
- to be strongly influenced and controlled by another person or something
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Apron strings was originally applied in a figurative sense to describe a man who is dependent on his mother or wife. The implication that he is still hanging on to his mother's apron like a small child. Thus the expression "tied to his mother's/wife's apron strings."
Meanwhile, the more generic term "apron strings" is commonly utilized as a metaphor for being dependent on someone or something. A person who receives government assistance might be described as "tied to the government's aprons strings" for instance. This expression is more often than not utilized in a negative or criticizing way.
According to the Chambers Dictionary, the word "apron" originally came from the Old French naperon/napron, a diminutive of nape (cloth). The modern French equivalent is napperon (small table cloth). As its use became common in English, the "n" in napron disappeared in conjunction with the definite article: in other words, a napron became an apron.
In addition to describing a garment that is usually fastened in the back and worn over all or part of the front of the body to protect clothing, apron also refers to a variety of other things in the sense of something that protects or is placed in front:
- the paved strip in front of and around airport hangars and terminal buildings
- the part of a stage in a theatre extending in front of the curtain
- a platform, as of planking, at the entrance to a dock
- a covering or structure along a shoreline for protection against erosion
- the part of a boxing ring floor that extends beyond the ropes
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"It's unbelievable, but at 34 he's still tied to his mother's apron strings."
---
Thanks to Siegwart for suggesting today's word!
idiom
- to be strongly influenced and controlled by another person or something
---
Apron strings was originally applied in a figurative sense to describe a man who is dependent on his mother or wife. The implication that he is still hanging on to his mother's apron like a small child. Thus the expression "tied to his mother's/wife's apron strings."
Meanwhile, the more generic term "apron strings" is commonly utilized as a metaphor for being dependent on someone or something. A person who receives government assistance might be described as "tied to the government's aprons strings" for instance. This expression is more often than not utilized in a negative or criticizing way.
According to the Chambers Dictionary, the word "apron" originally came from the Old French naperon/napron, a diminutive of nape (cloth). The modern French equivalent is napperon (small table cloth). As its use became common in English, the "n" in napron disappeared in conjunction with the definite article: in other words, a napron became an apron.
In addition to describing a garment that is usually fastened in the back and worn over all or part of the front of the body to protect clothing, apron also refers to a variety of other things in the sense of something that protects or is placed in front:
- the paved strip in front of and around airport hangars and terminal buildings
- the part of a stage in a theatre extending in front of the curtain
- a platform, as of planking, at the entrance to a dock
- a covering or structure along a shoreline for protection against erosion
- the part of a boxing ring floor that extends beyond the ropes
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"It's unbelievable, but at 34 he's still tied to his mother's apron strings."
---
Thanks to Siegwart for suggesting today's word!
