mother's boy

/'mʌðəzbɔi/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A boy or man who is excessively attached to his mother and is perceived as lacking independence or typical masculine interests. The term often carries a negative connotation, implying immaturity, over-dependence, or a failure to develop a separate adult identity.
Usage
  • The term "mother's boy" is used as a countable noun. It is typically used in informal or critical contexts to describe a male's behavior and relationship with his mother.
  • It can be considered a mild pejorative. A more formal, clinical synonym is "mama's boy."
Examples
  • Noun:
    • At 30 years old, he still lives at home and has his mother do his laundry; he's such a mother's boy.
    • His friends teased him for being a mother's boy because he called his mother three times a day.
Advanced Usage
  • The concept can be discussed in psychology regarding attachment styles or family dynamics.
  • "To be labeled a mother's boy": to be characterized by others as overly dependent on one's mother.
    • He was labeled a mother's boy in school, which made socializing difficult.
Variants and Related Words
  • Mama's boy (n): A more common variant in American English with the same meaning.
    • He's a total mama's boy; he won't make a decision without consulting her first.
  • Mother-fixated (adj): A more formal, psychological term describing an unhealthy emotional attachment to one's mother.
Synonyms
  • Mama's boy: (Informal, slightly more common) A boy or man excessively attached to his mother.
  • Dependent son: (More neutral) A son who relies heavily on his mother.
Antonyms
  • Independent man: A man who is self-reliant and does not depend excessively on his mother.
  • Rebel: A person, especially a young man, who defiantly rejects parental authority or influence.
Idioms and Related Phrases
  • Tied to his mother's apron strings: An idiom with a very similar meaning to "mother's boy," emphasizing lack of independence.
    • He's 40 and still tied to his mother's apron strings.
  • To cut the cord: An idiom meaning to become independent from one's parents, especially one's mother. This is the action a "mother's boy" is often seen as failing to do.
    • It's time for him to cut the cord and live his own life.
Noun
  1. a boy excessively attached to his mother; lacking normal masculine interests

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