to be tied to a wife's apron strings

1 definition found

to be tied to a wife's apron strings - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Apron string \A"pron string`\
     The string of an apron.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     To be tied to a wife's apron strings or To be tied to a mother's apron strings
     , to be unduly controlled by a wife or
        mother.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              He was so made that he could not submit to be tied
              to the apron strings even of the best of wives.
                                                    --Macaulay.
        [1913 Webster]