apron strings


Also found in: Idioms.

a′pron strings`


n.
the securing strings on an apron.
Idioms:
tied to someone's apron strings, dependent on or dominated by the other person: tied to his mother's apron strings.
[1535–45]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
"For not dilly-dallying and not hanging to a woman's apron strings. The Service before everything.
He stood by her chair, leaning his elbows on her knees and twisting her apron strings in his slender fingers, while he told her his story softly in Bohemian, and the tears brimmed over and hung on his long lashes.
Jessie and Jamie, who was never far from mamma's apron string. They looked like a flock of blue-birds, all being in sailor rig, with blue ribbon enough flying from the seven hats to have set up a milliner.
It's no use, Jo, he's got to learn that I'm able to take care of myself, and don't need anyone's apron string to hold on by." "What pepper pots you are!
As Gillian described it, "motherhood" is "that sinking feeling that, as your child is growing up, that you're being broken up with, on a gradual but daily basis." Your sons didn't snip the apron strings in one fell swoop let's just say the apron strings they once held on to for dear life got frayed over time.
I wish he'd grow up and cut the apron strings. I'd love your opinion.
Huddersfield voted to remain tied to the EU apron strings, says Mr Sheerman.
Diane consolidated her good start to the month in week two, pulling into the lead with another 19 points, only Peter Rogers hanging on to her apron strings with 16 points, whilst the other three contenders dropped away in the leaders' dust.
Local government should be detached from the apron strings of the state government.
Do you really want to stay tied to your mum's apron strings your whole life?
Synopsis: When we last left the Mackey Family in the late 1950s in volume one of Mary Morony's 'The Apron Strings' trilogy, their lives were in turmoil that included divorce, alcoholism, racism, death, and puberty.