tough love

Speech parts

1. tough love - Noun

2. tough love - Verb

Meaning

tough love (uncountable)

(idiomatic) The compassionate use of stringent disciplinary measures, to attempt to improve someone's behavior.

tough love (third-person singular simple present tough loves, present participle tough loving, simple past and past participle tough loved)

Alternative form of tough-love

tough-love (third-person singular simple present tough-loves, present participle tough-loving, simple past and past participle tough-loved)

To practice tough love; To treat someone with compassionate but stringent discipline in order to improve their behavior.

Alternative names

tough-love

Antonyms

Examples

Tough love - I'm kind of weary of that. I don't think it's so effective. Marguerite Moreau

What's the difference between tough love and acting like a jerk? Ricki Lake

In every case, here's the challenging bottom line: practicing tough love is- without question- toughest on the man who loves the most. William G. Boykin

I am tough, and sometimes I tell it like it is. Tough love can work wonders. Bikram Choudhury

Your job as a parent is to listen. And to dole out as much love as you can. That includes tough love. Christie Brinkley

Sometimes as a parent, you have to give your child that doesn't do his or her chores some tough love and withhold the allowance. Ami Bera

Close letter words and terms