be a slave to (something)

be a slave to (something)

To be unduly influenced by or care too much about something; to spend too much time or energy on something. Jeremy is a total slave to fashion. He can't leave the house without making sure every part of his outfit matches perfectly. I wish Sarah would relax a bit more over the weekend. She's a total slave to her job. Being a nerd is better than being a slave to my popularity, like those girls. At least I don't have to do things just for appearances.

See also: slave, to

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

*slave to something

Fig. someone who is under the control of something; someone whose time or attention is controlled or "owned by" by something. (Fig. on being a slave to a person. *Typically: be ~; become ~.) Mary is a slave to her job. Bill is a slave to his drug addiction.

See also: slave, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.