tiger mother

American  

[tahy-ger muhth-er] / ˈtaɪ gər ˌmʌð ər /

Informal, tiger mom

noun

1. a strict mother, especially an East Asian, who demands academic excellence and obedience from her children.

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tiger mother British  

noun

1. a very strict mother who demands that her children reach a high level of achievement

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Etymology

Origin of tiger mother

Term popularized by Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother , title of a book (2011) by Amy Chua (born 1962)

Example Sentences

When she boasts about her boyfriend’s athleticism and Instagram following, she is playing a version of her own tiger mother, parading her achievements as reflected in her accomplished and wealthy mate.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 4, 2019

Connor was a far-fetched feminist figure because her power was concentrated in her ambivalent maternal love – like a hypothetical tiger mother, which doesn’t do a huge amount for female agency.

From The Guardian • Jun. 5, 2017

Christine Sherrill, who stars in “The Fix” as a pushy, political tiger mother, was backstage at the time, preparing to make an entrance stage right.

From Washington Post • Aug. 18, 2015

The stakes for a tiger mother in the wild are vastly higher than for Chua’s tiger mothers.

From Slate • May 10, 2013

It involved the kinds of relentless drills that would have made a tiger mother proud.

From BusinessWeek • May 5, 2011