tough love

noun

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

tough love

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tough love¹

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

Example Sentences

A veteran of the first Iraq war in the early 1990s, he was 10 years older than most of his charges, and he treated them with a father’s tough love.

From Washington Post

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast