puppy love

American  

noun

1. temporary infatuation of a boy or girl for another person.

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puppy love British  

noun

1. another term for calf love

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puppy love Idioms  

1. Also, calf love. Adolescent love or infatuation, especially one that is not expected to last, as in Beth is besotted with him, but we think it's just puppy love, or He's got a bad case of calf love. [First half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

“You know, you have puppy love experiences, you think that’s love,” the 23-year-old actor-singer told Cosmopolitan in an interview published Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2023

“Heartstopper” offered its audience mellow dramatics and an understanding that puppy love is universal.

From New York Times • Jul. 29, 2023

“Show a little puppy love to your pet and take it out of the carrying case,” Farbstein said.

From Washington Post • Feb. 24, 2023

The letter is remarkable because the Nobel Literature Prize laureate author doesn’t simply brush off his then 14-year-old son Thomas’ feelings as childish puppy love.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 13, 2022

I suppose there’s A time in practically every young boy’s life when he’s affected by that wonderful disease of puppy love.

From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls