bear hug

¹

noun

1. a strong, tight embrace:

   My father gave me a big bear hug as soon as I stepped out of the taxi.

2. Wrestling. a hold in which one contestant locks both arms around the other in order to make the opponent fall to the mat.

bear-hug

²

[ bair-huhg ]

verb (used with object)

, bear-hugged, bear-hug·ging.

1. to greet with or hold in a bear hug:

   eager fans bear-hugging the victorious team.

bear hug

noun

1. a wrestling hold in which the arms are locked tightly round an opponent's chest and arms
2. any similar tight embrace
3. commerce an approach to the board of one company by another to indicate that an offer is to be made for their shares

Word History and Origins

Origin of bear hug¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Origin of bear hug²

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

And it imbues the foodstuffs, home goods, clothes, paraphernalia and tchotchkes that hail from here with a sort of unquantifiable, ineffable, sun-kissed, surf-adjacent vibe that wraps around you like a cartoon bear hug.

From Los Angeles Times

“Every day, a huge bear hug,” she recalled.

From Salon

Another leader, Evelyn Santiago, wrapped her in a bear hug and steered her to a table overflowing with snacks and art supplies.

From Los Angeles Times

It must also be said that when populist and anti-democratic politicians give Israel a bear hug based on their religious convictions, it is incumbent on those of us who know better, to reject such affiliation.

From Salon

State dinners are best known as bear hugs for overseas allies, and Thursday’s honoree was Kenya.

From New York Times