- tough love
- noun Date: 1968 love or affectionate concern expressed in a stern or unsentimental manner (as through discipline) especially to promote responsible behavior
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
tough love
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Tough love — is an expression used when someone treats another person harshly or sternly with the intent to help them in the long run. In most uses, there must be some actual love or feeling of affection behind the harsh or stern treatment to be defined as… … Wikipedia
tough|love — tough love or tough|love «TUHF LUHV», noun. any of various means that seek to remedy a person s distress by seemingly unsympathetic attitudes or harsh actions: »Gates was warned…that he was showing Scott too much understanding. Steve advised him… … Useful english dictionary
tough love — UK US noun [U] HR ► a way of dealing with someone who has a problem in which you do not show a lot of kindness so that they try to solve it themselves: »His approach to management is often described as tough love or no nonsense … Financial and business terms
tough love — noun uncount a strict but kind way of dealing with someone who has a problem … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
tough love — ☆ tough love n. [< TOUGHLOVE, a trademark for a program offering family counseling] a disciplinary technique, as for a young person or a loved one, in which a seemingly harsh or unfeeling course of action is chosen deliberately over one… … English World dictionary
tough love — a mixture of toughness and warmth used in a relationship, esp. with an adolescent. [1977; after Toughlove, a network of support groups] * * * tough love noun The practice of keeping a loved one who has an addiction on a strict regime of… … Useful english dictionary
Tough Love — Este artículo o sección necesita referencias que aparezcan en una publicación acreditada, como revistas especializadas, monografías, prensa diaria o páginas de Internet fidedignas. Puedes añadirlas así o avisar … Wikipedia Español
tough love — N UNCOUNT Tough love is the practice of being very strict with a relative or friend who has an addiction or other problem in order to help them overcome the problem. ...the activities of black communities in identifying their own law breaking… … English dictionary
tough love — noun The compassionate use of stringent disciplinary measures, to attempt to improve someones behavior. When it came to Latin Americas economic travails, Bush adhered to the principle of tough love: no more bailouts … Wiktionary
tough love — mainly American a method of helping someone to change their behaviour by treating them in a very severe way. Tough love is the only approach to take towards a relative hooked on drugs … New idioms dictionary
Tough love (disambiguation) — Tough love is a term used in behaviour modificationIt may also refer to: *Tough Love (band), Tribal Pop band based in London *Tough Love with Mick Molloy, Australian Radio program *Tough Love (Buffy episode), episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer… … Wikipedia
