Idioms about Mothers - wordscoach.com

30+ Idioms about Mothers


30+ Idioms about Mothers

Mothers hold a special place in our hearts and play an invaluable role in our lives. They are a source of unconditional love, support, and guidance. Through their unwavering dedication and nurturing nature, mothers inspire and shape us into the individuals we become. In this blog, we will embark on a heartwarming journey, exploring 30+ idioms about mothers that beautifully encapsulate their unique qualities and the profound impact they have on our lives.

List of Mother Idioms



  • Mother hen
  • Mama bear
  • Mother house
  • Like mother, like daughter
  • Mother tongue
  • Mother Nature
  • Motherhood is a full-time job
  • Expectant mother
  • A mother’s love knows no bounds
  • In the mother of all battles
  • Mother wit
  • Mother’s apron strings
  • Mother’s intuition
  • To keep mum
  • My better half
  • To be as nurturing as a mother
  • Everyone and his mother
  • Like a mother to me
  • Mother of all surprises
  • Mother’s pride
  • A mother’s touch
  • Motherly advice
  • Mother of invention
  • Like pulling teeth
  • Mother’s milk
  • Mother’s little helper
  • Motherhood changes you
  • At one’s mother’s knee
  • Motherly devotion
  • The mother lode
  • A tiger mother
  • Like a mother’s touch
  • A face only a mother could love
  • Motherly pride and joy
  • Mother’s unconditional support
  • The warmth of a mother’s hug
  • A mama’s boy
  • Mother’s love, a bond forever
  • A mother hen
  • Be tied to (one’s) mother’s apron strings
  • Experience is the mother of wisdom
  • The mother of all (something)



Mother Idioms with Meaning and Examples

Mother hen
Meaning:
Refers to a mother who is protective and caring towards her children or loved ones.
Example: Whenever her kids are sick, Mary becomes a mother hen, making sure they have everything they need to get better.

Mama bear
Meaning:
Describes a mother who fiercely protects her children and becomes assertive when they are threatened.
Example: Don’t mess with Jane’s kids; she turns into a mama bear when she senses any danger.

Mother house
Meaning:
The principle house in a religious order
Example: Just how busy these women were is apparent from comments in the annual handwritten report to the order’s mother house.

Like mother, like daughter
Meaning:
Suggests that a daughter shares similar traits or characteristics with her mother.
Example: Emily has inherited her mother’s artistic talents. Like mother, like daughter.

Mother tongue
Meaning:
Refers to the native language or first language of a person.
Example: Even though she speaks multiple languages, her mother tongue is French.

Mother Nature
Meaning:
The force that controls the natural world
Example: Look at all the wonders that Mother Nature provides, from fruit and vegetables to beautiful mountains and oceans.

Motherhood is a full-time job
Meaning:
Highlights the demanding and continuous nature of being a mother.
Example: Raising three children is no easy task. For Sarah, motherhood is a full-time job.

Expectant mother
Meaning:
A pregnant woman.
Example: I know the subway’s crowded, but you should really give your seat to the expectant mother standing by the door.

A mother’s love knows no bounds
Meaning:
Expresses the limitless and unconditional love a mother has for her children.
Example: No matter what mistakes I make, my mother’s love knows no bounds. She always supports me.

In the mother of all battles
Meaning:
Describes a situation or conflict that is significant or intense.
Example: The final match between the two rival teams was in the mother of all battles.

Mother wit
Meaning:
Refers to a mother’s innate wisdom, common sense, and practical knowledge.
Example: Mary’s mother wit always helps her find solutions to problems.

Mother’s apron strings
Meaning:
Symbolizes the emotional attachment and dependence a child may have on their mother.
Example: Even though he’s an adult now, John is still tied to his mother’s apron strings.

Mother’s intuition
Meaning:
Describes a mother’s instinctive understanding or perception of her child’s needs or well-being.
Example: Sensing something was wrong, the mother’s intuition prompted her to check on her daughter.

To keep mum
Meaning:
To keep quiet about something
Example: He was keeping mum about a possible move to West Ham.

My better half
Meaning:
A term used to affectionately refer to one’s mother who plays a significant role in one’s life.
Example: I owe everything to my better half. My mother has been my rock.

To be as nurturing as a mother
Meaning:
Indicates someone who displays caring and supportive qualities similar to those of a mother.
Example: The teacher is as nurturing as a mother, providing comfort and guidance to her students.

Everyone and his mother
Meaning:
Used to express a large number or a majority of people.
Example: I’m so jealous, everyone and his mother is going on a vacation this summer except for me.

Like a mother to me
Meaning:
Expresses gratitude for someone who has shown motherly care and support, even if not biologically related.
Example: My aunt has been like a mother to me, always there when I needed guidance or a listening ear.

Mother of all surprises
Meaning:
Describes a surprising event or situation that surpasses all expectations.
Example: When they revealed the gender of the baby, it was the mother of all surprises.

Mother’s pride
Meaning:
Signifies the deep sense of pride and joy that a mother feels for her children’s accomplishments.
Example: Seeing her daughter graduate from university filled the mother’s heart with immense pride.

A mother’s touch
Meaning:
Represents the comforting and soothing touch of a mother, often associated with healing or providing comfort.
Example: Whenever I was sick, my mother’s gentle touch would instantly make me feel better.

Motherly advice
Meaning:
Refers to the wise counsel and guidance given by a mother.
Example: Before starting college, my mother gave me some valuable motherly advice about time management and staying focused.


Mother of invention
Meaning:
Indicates that necessity and the desire to take care of her children can drive a mother to find innovative solutions.
Example: When she couldn’t find a baby stroller that met her needs, Sarah became the mother of invention and designed her own.

Like pulling teeth
Meaning:
Describes a challenging or difficult task, often associated with getting children to do something they don’t want to do.
Example: Getting my son to eat his vegetables is like pulling teeth.

Mother’s milk
Meaning:
Something necessary and important
Example: The bottom line is work and that is mother’s milk to any performer.

Mother’s little helper
Meaning:
Refers to something or someone that assists a mother in managing her daily tasks or responsibilities.
Example: The washing machine has become my mother’s little helper in tackling the never-ending laundry.

The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world
Meaning:
Suggests that mothers have a significant influence in shaping the future through their nurturing and guidance.
Example: Mothers are the hand that rocks the cradle and have the power to shape the world through their children.

Motherhood changes you
Meaning:
Expresses the transformative effect that becoming a mother has on a person.
Example: Becoming a mother has changed me in ways I never imagined. It has brought out strengths I never knew I had.

At one’s mother’s knee
Meaning:
If you learned to do something when you were a young child.
Example: I learned how to bake at my mother’s knee when I was just a girl.

Motherly devotion
Meaning:
Signifies the unwavering dedication and commitment a mother has towards her children.
Example: Despite facing numerous challenges, Sarah’s motherly devotion never wavered, and she always put her children’s needs first.

The mother lode
Meaning:
Refers to an abundant or rich source of something, often used metaphorically.
Example: The library is a mother lode of knowledge and information.

A tiger mother
Meaning:
A strict and demanding mother
Example: Two new studies do point out that there are costs to tiger mothering.

Like a mother’s touch
Meaning:
Describes something that is tender, comforting, or gentle.
Example: The music played softly in the background, filling the room with a like a mother’s touch.

A face only a mother could love
Meaning:
Refers to someone’s appearance that may not be conventionally attractive but is loved and cherished by their mother.
Example: Despite his quirky looks, he had a face only a mother could love.

Motherly pride and joy
Meaning:
Signifies the immense happiness and pride a mother feels for her children’s achievements or milestones.
Example: Seeing her son perform on stage filled her with motherly pride and joy.

Mother’s unconditional support
Meaning:
Represents the unwavering encouragement and backing a mother provides to her children, regardless of their successes or failures.
Example: No matter what I choose to pursue, I know I have my mother’s unconditional support.

The warmth of a mother’s hug
Meaning:
Describes the comforting and loving embrace of a mother.
Example: After a long day, nothing compares to the warmth of a mother’s hug.

A mama’s boy
Meaning:
A boy or man who allows his mother to have too much influence on him.
Example: I thought I loved him until I realized he was a mama’s boy who can’t do anything without his mother’s permission or approval.

Mother’s love, a bond forever
Meaning:
Signifies the eternal and unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.
Example: Though miles apart, the mother’s love created a bond forever between them.

These 30+ idioms about mothers encapsulate the immense love, care, and influence that mothers have in our lives. They beautifully capture the unique qualities, experiences, and emotions associated with motherhood. From their protective instincts to their endless support, mothers play a pivotal role in shaping who we are and instilling values that guide us throughout our lives.


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