cupboard love

American  

noun

1. a personal attachment that appears to be motivated by love but in fact stems from the hope of gain.

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cupboard love British  

noun

1. a show of love inspired only by some selfish or greedy motive

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Other Word Forms

• cupboard lover noun

Etymology

Origin of cupboard love

First recorded in 1750–60

Example Sentences

Ancient Greeks had no word for cupboard love, but, undoubtedly, this is a love the vast majority of animal pets may feel for us.

From The Guardian • Jul. 16, 2019

It would display, for the careful eye, the hatless Kelly filleting a flying fish, against the bunker hatch, for his friend the cat, who should be gazing up with cupboard love at her unshaven protector.

From The Bonadventure A Random Journal of an Atlantic Holiday by Blunden, Edmund

This last and long-enduring passion for Mrs. Thrale was, however, composed perhaps of cupboard love, Platonic love, and vanity tickled and gratified, from morn to night, by incessant homage.

From Autobiography, Letters and Literary Remains of Mrs. Piozzi (Thrale) (2nd ed.) (2 vols.) Edited with notes and Introductory Account of her life and writings by Piozzi, Hester Lynch

But it isn’t cupboard love, at least not quite.

From The Rustle of Silk by Hamilton, Cosmo

So no one could accuse Dolls of cupboard love.

From Aileen Aroon, A Memoir With other Tales of Faithful Friends and Favourites by Stables, Gordon