# tough love

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tough-love
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The compassionate use of stringent disciplinary measures, to attempt to improve someone's behavior.

## Examples

- My coach uses tough love to help me improve my game.
- The manager used tough love by refusing to fix the employee's mistakes, forcing him to learn how to do it himself.
- While his methods were often perceived as harsh, the mentor insisted that his brand of tough love was the only way to prepare his students for the realities of the profession.

---

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.