wraps in cotton wool
Guards too carefully
To wrap someone in cotton wool is to overprotect them, shielding them from any possible harm or difficulty.
The image is of padding something fragile so thoroughly it can't be damaged: Her parents wrapped her in cotton wool and she never learned to handle disappointment.
British English; Americans might say "bubble wrap."
- mollycoddleOverindulge with excessive protection
- infantilizeTreat as immature
- smotherDeprive of air
- helicopter parentExcessively controlling caregiver
- shieldHandheld defensive armor
insulate · cocoon · pamper · safeguard · keep safe · baby · hold their hand · overindulge · defend · buffer · stifle · shelter · preserve · kid gloves · velvet glove · restrict · inhibit · disempower
wraps in cotton wooltoughens up
Becomes stronger through adversity
hardens · steels · puts through the wringer · disciplines · challenges
wrap, wraps, wrapped, wrapping, wrapper, wrappers, cotton, cottons, cottony