tree-hugging activist
1
6.0
- noun
- /triː ˈhʌɡɪŋ ˈæktɪvɪst/
- Informal
- After hearing the plans for a new highway, the tree-hugging activist started a petition to protect the woodland area.
Examples
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The tree-hugging activist organized a rally to oppose the cutting down of the old forest.
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Some people dismiss her as a tree-hugging activist, but she has made a real difference in environmental policy.
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The tree-hugging activist spoke passionately at the rally.
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Many tree-hugging activists protested against the new logging policy.
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After hearing about the logging plans, the tree-hugging activist rallied the community to protect the trees.
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The tree-hugging activist wrote a detailed report highlighting the importance of preserving natural forests.
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At the meeting, the tree-hugging activist passionately described the impact of deforestation on local wildlife.
Synonyms
115
3.6
A person who works to protect nature and prevent pollution
21
5.5
A person who protects nature and animals from harm and pollution
15
8.2
A person who wants to protect trees and nature, sometimes used as an insult
4
6.7
A person who works to protect nature and reduce pollution
How Active
- Informal
1
6.0
60
3.7
30
3.7
810
1.0
34
4.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
tree-hugging + activist
The meaning is compositionally clear: 'tree-hugging' conveys someone who hugs or strongly protects trees, and combined with 'activist' yields an activist who cares for/protects trees (an environmentalist). This follows a regular English compounding pattern and is easily inferred from the constituent words, so a B1 learner who knows them would likely understand it.
Etymology
Tree-hugging activist comes from the image of people who would actually hug trees to stop them being cut down. So, it now means 'an environmentalist who cares a lot about protecting trees'.