# mother hen

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/mother-hen
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An outspoken and overprotective woman or person dealing with others' affairs; especially, an assertive matriarch.

## Examples

- She acts like a mother hen with her younger brothers.
- Stop being such a mother hen; I am old enough to look after myself.
- The director played the mother hen, fussing over every detail of the actors' lives to ensure they remained focused and safe.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.