leading strings

[ lee-ding ]

/ ˈli dɪŋ /

plural noun

strings for leading and supporting a child learning to walk.

excessively restraining guidance: His parents tried to keep him in leading strings, but he finally married and moved away.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

"Little Women" may be a classic, but that doesn't mean we all know the meanings of the vocab words from the book. Can you define these words correctly and make Jo proud?

Question 1 of 10

earnest

full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.

a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.

urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of leading strings

First recorded in 1670–80

Words nearby leading strings

leading mark, leading note, leading question, leading rating, leading reins, leading strings, leading tone, leading wind, leadoff, leadplant, leadsman

Example sentences from the Web for leading strings

Its march through the country in leading-strings was curious to spectators and harassing to the aerostiers.
Up in the Clouds|R.M. Ballantyne
They persisted in the delusion that Louis Napoleon was still happy in their leading-strings.
The Recollections of Alexis de Tocqueville|Alexis De Tocqueville
You can break from the leading-strings of that malignant Mr. Jennings.
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII No. 1 January 1848|Various
"One would think I was eighteen years old and in leading-strings still, upon my word," he interrupted, with an irritated laugh.
Beyond The Rocks|Elinor Glyn

Pitt, in court dress, is making sure of his ward, for he is holding him in leading-strings.
Rowlandson the Caricaturist. First Volume|Joseph Grego

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