tower of strength

Idioms  

1. A dependable person on whom one can lean in time of trouble, as in After Dad died Grandma was a tower of strength for the whole family. This expression, first recorded in 1549, originally was used most often to refer to God and heaven, but Shakespeare had it differently in Richard III (5:3): “Besides, the King's name is a tower of strength.”

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Example Sentences

Ayton was a tower of strength with 28 points on 12-for-14 shooting, 13 rebounds, three blocked shots and three assists.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

Daniel Christopher Birks, who trained Mr Henderson in 2010 and led the troop he was assigned to in Afghanistan, said: "He was such a tower of strength, kind of like the model recruit."

From BBC • May 22, 2024

Her Evelyn, struggling to understand what’s going on and yet accepting it, is a tower of strength — and, in a beautiful final close-up as she gazes in wonder around her, a beacon of love.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 28, 2022

With the help of their tower of strength, the Hoosiers went from a 51-51 tie with 10:15 left to a 73-59 lead at the 3:51 mark.

From Washington Times • Mar. 31, 2021

A tower of strength, she is firm and does not yield, except in loving.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Related Words

• bulwark
• citadel
• fortress
• mainstay
• stronghold