mother-hen
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English
[edit]Verb
[edit]mother-hen (third-person singular simple present mother-hens, present participle mother-henning, simple past and past participle mother-henned)
- (transitive, intransitive) To behave in an overprotective or extremely nurturing manner (towards).
- 1997, Renon Klossner Hulet, Don't You Dare Give Up, page 201:
- Concerned for Diane's well-being, he mother-henned her constantly.
- 2018, Patricia Rice, Rebel Girl:
- He watched as Jo mother-henned her entire family, including the kids, into the closed café.
- 2018, Erik Henry Vick, Demon King:
- The two little ones were up on the sidewalk now, being mother-henned by two ladies with blue hair and eating ice cream.
Related terms
[edit]- mother hen (noun)
- henpecked