loosen the apron strings
Release parental control
To loosen the apron strings is to give someone—usually a child or young adult—more independence and freedom.
The apron strings are a mother's, and loosening them means relaxing protective control: It's time to loosen the apron strings and let him make his own mistakes.
The opposite, being tied to someone's apron strings, describes excessive dependence on or control by a parent or partner.
- parenthoodState of having children
- child rearingNurturing young to adulthood
- letting goReleasing one's grasp
- coming-of-ageYouth becoming adulthood
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
nurturing · emancipation · freedom · separation anxiety · boundaries · empty nest · flying the nest · leaving home · first apartment · self-sufficiency · individuality · growing pains · resilience · caregiving · parental control · maturity · trust-building · dependency
loosen the apron stringssmother
Deprive of air
helicopter parent · overprotect · wrap in cotton wool · micromanage · coddle
loosen the apron stringshold on tight
cling · enmesh · bind · never let go · hold back
loosen, loosely, looseness, loosening, loosened, looser, loosest, aprons, string