motherhood and apple pie
Sacred American ideals
Motherhood and apple pie represents values so wholesome and uncontroversial that no one could object to them—family, tradition, American virtue.
The phrase typically appears in political or rhetorical contexts to describe positions that sound admirable but lack substance: His speech was all motherhood and apple pie.
To call something motherhood and apple pie is often dismissive, suggesting empty platitudes rather than serious policy.
- parenthoodState of having children
- homeOne's personal residence
- white picket fenceTraditional property divider
- home cookingMeals prepared at residence
- clichéOverused, unoriginal expression
maternity · platitude · family · family values · childbirth · rhetoric · Americana · Main Street USA · love · idealism · nurturing · truism · values · tradition · jingoism · wholesomeness · sentimentality · consensus-building
motherhood and apple piehot-button issue
Controversial topic provoking strong reactions
third rail · wedge issue · abortion · gun control · lightning rod
motherhood and apple pievice
Bad habit or deputy
moral decay · Sodom and Gomorrah · wickedness · degeneracy · immorality
motherhood and apple piefighting words
Inflammatory language inviting violence
hot take · sacred cow · taboo subject · elephant in the room · bitter pill