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

Nadal was coached by his uncle Toni from the age of three with a tough love approach.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

And now for the tough love: You have reached the point where the question is no longer whether you’re saving enough.

From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026

And to be fair, Cronin has often used his tough love with great success, turning marginal players into good ones.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

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 • Feb. 15, 2026

But it doesn’t always work, because you’re giving the kid tough love when maybe he just needs love.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah