bear hug

bear hug

A strong and often immobilizing type of embrace. Jane was so excited to see her dad for the first time since his military deployment, she ran to him, wrapped her arms around him, and gave him a long bear hug. After the accident, I wrapped my kids in a bear hug for what felt like an eternity. Yeah, my ex and I were ultimately incompatible, but he gave really comforting bear hugs.
See also: bear, hug
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

bear hug

An affectionate, sometimes overwhelming embrace. In wrestling it is also known as a body lock; in business it is an aggressive offer for a takeover. But the cliché refers simply to the embrace, as in “Jane met him with a handshake, but he responded by giving her a bear hug.”
See also: bear, hug
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
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