1. tough love - Noun
2. tough love - Verb
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.
tough-love
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