tough love

American  

noun

1. a mixture of toughness and warmth used in a relationship, especially with an adolescent.

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tough love British  

noun

1. the practice of taking a stern attitude towards a relative or friend suffering from an addiction, etc, to help the addict overcome the problem

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Etymology

Origin of tough love

First recorded in 1977; after Toughlove, a network of support groups

Example Sentences

Secretary of State Marco Rubio continues to get plaudits for his Saturday “tough love” message to Europe at the Munich Security Conference.

From The Wall Street Journal

Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a more conciliatory message in a speech this weekend, but the underlying theme remains one of very tough love for the Continent.

From The Wall Street Journal

Clinton Kelly and Stacy London return as its hosts, older, wiser and atoning for the tough love and scathing real talk they once doled out to style-challenged guests.

From Salon

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo showed some tough love for one of his former players on Monday night during the Spartans’ blowout victory against USC in East Lansing.

From Los Angeles Times

That kind of tough love echoes throughout the team, Jones said.

From Los Angeles Times