to loosen the apron strings

7.5

Allow a child to be more independent

idiom

Informal

: dar más libertad

After years of constant supervision, her parents finally decided to loosen the apron strings.

Examples

Some mothers find it difficult to loosen the apron strings as their children grow up.
It's time to loosen the apron strings!
He realized he needed to loosen the apron strings and let his daughter make her own decisions.
Parents need to loosen the apron strings as their kids grow up.
As children grow older, many parents begin to loosen the apron strings and encourage them to make their own decisions.
When she turned 18, her parents decided to loosen the apron strings and let her manage her own finances.
It's important for parents to loosen the apron strings gradually, so their kids can learn responsibility.

Synonyms

to unchain

vsto loosen the apron strings

6 4.1

Remove chains and other things that hold someone so they are free

allows gradual independence by giving freedom and responsibility step by step

to cut the apron strings

vsto loosen the apron strings

Informal

1 7.7

To become independent from your parents and live on your own

allows gradual independence by increasing freedom and responsibility

to cut the umbilical cord

vsto loosen the apron strings

Informal

1 6.8

To become independent from parents and make your own decisions

allows gradual independence by increasing freedom and responsibility

to give enough rope

vsto loosen the apron strings

Informal

8.7

Allow someone freedom to show ability or make mistakes that reveal their true character

allows measured independence focused on safe growth rather than risk

How Independent

to cut the apron strings

Informal

1 7.7

to loosen the apron strings

Informal

7.5

to encourage

∞ 2.3

to hold close

1 1.4

confining

1 5.6

Surface Forms

loosen the apron strings infinitive

loosened the apron strings past

loosened the apron strings past participle

loosening the apron strings present participle

loosens the apron strings third person singular

Morphology

loosen + the + apron + strings

The literal meanings of 'loosen' (make less tight) and 'apron' + 'strings' (cords on a protective garment) are transparent, so a learner might infer a loosening of control. However, the conventional idiomatic sense—granting independence, often from maternal influence—is metaphorical and depends on cultural phraseological knowledge, so the exact pragmatic meaning is not fully predictable from the parts for a B1 learner.

Etymology

The phrase loosen the apron strings comes from the picture of a parent who tied a small child's apron with strings to keep them close, and to loosen those strings was to let the child move away. So, the phrase means 'to let someone have more freedom'.