tiger mother: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal to Academic
Quick answer
What does “tiger mother” mean?
A mother who adopts a strict, demanding, and highly disciplined approach to parenting, often emphasizing academic excellence and achievement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mother who adopts a strict, demanding, and highly disciplined approach to parenting, often emphasizing academic excellence and achievement.
The term extends to describe any parent, regardless of gender, who uses similar authoritarian methods, and it often carries cultural connotations related to East Asian parenting styles, though it can be applied more broadly.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties, but 'tiger mum' is sometimes used in British English as a colloquial variant, though 'tiger mother' is standard.
Connotations
In both, it implies strictness and high expectations; in American English, it is more commonly associated with Amy Chua's book and related debates.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to the origin of the term from American literature and media.
Grammar
How to Use “tiger mother” in a Sentence
be a tiger motherhave a tiger motheradopt tiger mother methodscriticize tiger mother parentingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tiger mother” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She tiger-mothers her children to excel in school.
American English
- She tiger-mothers her kids to achieve high grades.
adverb
British English
- She parents tiger-motherly, with high expectations.
American English
- She raises her children tiger-mother-like, focusing on success.
adjective
British English
- Their tiger-mother approach to homework is intense.
American English
- Their tiger-mother style of discipline is rigorous.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear in discussions about work-life balance or leadership styles metaphorically.
Academic
Common in sociology, psychology, education, and cultural studies when discussing parenting styles and cross-cultural differences.
Everyday
Used in casual conversations, media, and blogs about parenting and education.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields; limited to socio-cultural contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tiger mother”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tiger mother”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tiger mother”
- Using 'tiger father' interchangeably, though the term is gender-specific to mothers.
- Applying it to any strict parent without the cultural or achievement-oriented context.
- Spelling it as 'tiger mom' in formal writing without consistency.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It refers to a mother who is extremely strict and demanding, particularly about her children's academic and extracurricular successes, often associated with certain cultural parenting styles.
Primarily yes, as the term specifies 'mother', but it can be extended metaphorically to fathers or any parent using similar methods, though 'tiger parent' is sometimes used.
It gained widespread popularity from Amy Chua's 2011 book 'Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother', which described her strict parenting approach inspired by her Chinese heritage.
It is often viewed negatively as it can imply excessive pressure and lack of warmth, but some see it positively as a way to instill discipline and achieve high standards; perspectives vary culturally.
A mother who adopts a strict, demanding, and highly disciplined approach to parenting, often emphasizing academic excellence and achievement.
Tiger mother is usually informal to academic in register.
Tiger mother: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtaɪɡə ˈmʌðə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtaɪɡər ˈmʌðər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “tiger parenting”
- “helicopter parenting”
- “authoritarian upbringing”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a tiger: fierce and protective, just like a tiger mother who is strict and demanding to ensure her children's success.
Conceptual Metaphor
PARENTING IS A BATTLE / CHILDREN ARE SOLDIERS, where the tiger represents strength, aggression, and dominance in guiding offspring.
Practice
Quiz
What is a key characteristic of a tiger mother?