leading strings

American  

[lee-ding] / ˈli dɪŋ /

plural noun

1. strings for leading and supporting a child learning to walk.

2. excessively restraining guidance.

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

---

Etymology

Origin of leading strings

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

Right or wrong, Britain is not responsible for it, and Mr. Wallace's picture of the United States in leading strings is quite fanciful.

From Time Magazine Archive

“In it is pictured the French at school, at war, in leading strings, in love, at work, at play, and at table, in trouble, in England, etc., etc.,”

From A Frenchman in America Recollections of Men and Things by O'Rell, Max

Meanwhile the English drama, freed from its leading strings, will find its own way for itself.

From The English Stage Being an Account of the Victorian Drama by Filon, Augustin

The other young lady was a slip of a girl just coming out; in fact, this was the first visit which she had ever paid out of leading strings.

From Tom Brown at Oxford by Hughes, Thomas

I guess you're equal to holding Handsome Bill by the leading strings, all right....

From My Actor-Husband A true story of American stage life by Anonymous