The tie or cord of an apron; also used in the phrase 'tied to one's apron strings' meaning excessively dependent on someone.
From 'apron' plus 'string.' The metaphorical meaning developed because apron strings literally tied someone to domestic work and home, making it a symbol of domestic dependence.
When people say someone is 'tied to apron strings,' they mean they're stuck at home and can't think for themselves—it's a centuries-old image of mothers keeping their kids dependent by literally having them tied to their aprons!
The phrase 'tied to apron strings' historically feminized dependency and infantilized adult men, implying weakness or emasculation if influenced by mothers or wives. It conflates women's domestic work with control, stereotyping caregiving as manipulation.
Avoid idiomatic uses that equate apron-wearing or maternal care with control or dependency. Use literal, context-specific language instead (e.g., 'dependent on' or 'influenced by').
["dependent on","influenced by","closely bonded with"]
Mothers and caregivers actively shaped societies; reframing 'apron string' relationships recognizes interdependence and care labor as strength, not control.
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