tough love

noun

a mixture of toughness and warmth used in a relationship, especially with an adolescent.

tough love

the practice of taking a stern attitude towards a relative or friend suffering from an addiction, etc, to help the addict overcome the problem

First recorded in 1977; after Toughlove, a network of support groups

Being told the country needs tough love when the facts suggest otherwise is not going down well with the public.

We need to put aside our partisan criticism and start helping him with some tough love.

Tough love and discipline are the lessons this View host offered her wide-eyed applicant.

Time for some tough love—Republicans leaders have dumped a 100-page report that spells out why their party is in dire straits.

We also push each other with some serious tough love when needed.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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