be tied to something's apron strings

be tied to (something's) apron strings

To be controlled or dominated by something. If you accept money from that unsavory organization, you'll be tied to its apron strings for a long time. The CEO of that company is a big political donor, so of course he's tied to his party's apron strings. Once your book comes out, its tied to that publisher's apron strings. If you're having serious misgivings about them already, I'd look for a new publisher.

See also: apron, string, tie, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

be tied to something's apron strings

If one country or organization is tied to another's apron strings, the first country or organization is dependent on and controlled by the second when it should be independent. The country was little more than a colony, tied to Canada's apron strings.

See also: apron, string, tie, to

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012