Mothers hold a special place in our lives, and the English language reflects this through many vivid idioms that capture their love, care, influence, and sometimes challenges. These idioms go beyond literal meanings to express emotions, relationships, and wisdom connected to motherhood. This guide presents 43 idioms about mothers, each explained with meanings, example sentences, and alternative expressions to enrich your vocabulary. To help you practice, a quiz with 14 multiple-choice questions is included at the end.
43 Idioms About Mothers with Meanings and Examples
- Like mother, like daughter
Meaning: Daughters often resemble their mothers in behavior or character.
Example: Maria loves baking just like her mom—like mother, like daughter!
Other Ways to Say: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, She takes after her mom. - Mother hen
Meaning: Someone overly protective and caring.
Example: Mrs. Taylor fusses over her kids like a true mother hen.
Other Ways to Say: Overprotective mom, Helicopter parent. - Mama bear
Meaning: A fiercely protective mother.
Example: When her son was teased, she became a real mama bear.
Other Ways to Say: Protective mom, Fierce mother. - Tie to your mother’s apron strings
Meaning: Being overly dependent on your mother.
Example: Jack needs to grow up; he’s still tied to his mother’s apron strings.
Other Ways to Say: Too clingy, Still relying on mom. - A face only a mother could love
Meaning: Someone not traditionally attractive but loved by their mother.
Example: The puppy was scruffy but had a face only a mother could love.
Other Ways to Say: Lovable in their own way, Cherished despite flaws. - Mother knows best
Meaning: Mothers usually have the right advice.
Example: I didn’t want to wear a jacket, but Mom was right—mother knows best.
Other Ways to Say: Listen to your mom, Mom’s advice is wise. - Mother’s touch
Meaning: The special care or attention only a mother gives.
Example: The house felt cozy with a mother’s touch.
Other Ways to Say: Caring hand, Special attention. - Mother of all [something]
Meaning: The biggest or most extreme example of something.
Example: That was the mother of all storms last night.
Other Ways to Say: The biggest, The ultimate. - Mom-and-pop
Meaning: A small, family-run business.
Example: We prefer shopping at the mom-and-pop grocery store.
Other Ways to Say: Family-run, Local shop. - Everyone and their mother
Meaning: A large number of people.
Example: Everyone and their mother came to the festival.
Other Ways to Say: A huge crowd, Almost everyone. - Necessity is the mother of invention
Meaning: Need inspires creative solutions.
Example: We fixed the broken chair with tape—necessity is the mother of invention.
Other Ways to Say: Creativity comes from need, Problems inspire solutions. - Mother Earth
Meaning: Nature or the planet.
Example: We must protect Mother Earth for future generations.
Other Ways to Say: Nature, The planet. - Throw the baby out with the bathwater
Meaning: To lose something valuable while trying to get rid of the unwanted.
Example: Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater when revising your essay.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t lose what’s good, Keep the important parts. - Mama’s boy
Meaning: A man very close to or dependent on his mother.
Example: He’s a mama’s boy who calls his mom every day.
Other Ways to Say: Mom’s favorite, Dependent son. - Mothership
Meaning: The main center or headquarters.
Example: The office is the mothership of the company.
Other Ways to Say: Central hub, Main place. - Motherlode
Meaning: A large supply or source of something valuable.
Example: The attic was a motherlode of old books.
Other Ways to Say: Treasure trove, Jackpot. - A mother’s intuition
Meaning: A mother’s natural ability to sense things.
Example: Mom knew I was upset without me saying a word—mother’s intuition.
Other Ways to Say: Mother’s instinct, Sixth sense. - Your mother’s milk
Meaning: Something essential or natural to you.
Example: Music was my mother’s milk growing up.
Other Ways to Say: Part of growing up, Natural habit. - Mother nature
Meaning: Natural forces like weather or wildlife.
Example: We must respect Mother Nature and protect the environment.
Other Ways to Say: The natural world, The environment. - Old Mother Hubbard
Meaning: Having very little or running out of supplies.
Example: After the storm, our pantry was like Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard.
Other Ways to Say: Running on empty, Out of stock. - A mother’s love
Meaning: Strong, unconditional love from a mother.
Example: A mother’s love is unmatched in its strength.
Other Ways to Say: Unconditional love, Parental care. - Sweating like a mother
Meaning: Sweating heavily.
Example: I was sweating like a mother after running in the heat.
Other Ways to Say: Sweating buckets, Drenched in sweat. - Mother of the bride
Meaning: The mother of a woman getting married.
Example: The mother of the bride gave a heartfelt speech.
Other Ways to Say: Bride’s mom, Wedding mother. - Mother of all excuses
Meaning: The biggest or most elaborate excuse.
Example: That was the mother of all excuses for missing the meeting.
Other Ways to Say: Grand excuse, Over-the-top reason. - Mother’s little helper
Meaning: Something that helps a mother manage daily tasks.
Example: Coffee is a mother’s little helper in the morning.
Other Ways to Say: Handy assistant, Useful tool. - Queen mother
Meaning: A respected mother figure or matriarch.
Example: Grandma is the queen mother of our family.
Other Ways to Say: Family head, Matriarch. - Mother tongue
Meaning: One’s first language.
Example: English is her mother tongue.
Other Ways to Say: Native language, First language. - Motherload
Meaning: A large amount of work or responsibility.
Example: Taking care of three kids is a motherload of work.
Other Ways to Say: Big burden, Heavy workload. - Mom’s the word
Meaning: Keep a secret.
Example: Mom’s the word about the surprise party.
Other Ways to Say: Keep it secret, Lips sealed. - Have a bun in the oven
Meaning: To be pregnant.
Example: She has a bun in the oven and is due next month.
Other Ways to Say: Expecting, Pregnant. - Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth
Meaning: Born into wealth.
Example: He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Other Ways to Say: Born wealthy, Privileged. - Sugar mama
Meaning: A wealthy woman who supports her partner.
Example: He’s living well thanks to his sugar mama.
Other Ways to Say: Wealthy benefactor, Supportive partner. - The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world
Meaning: Mothers have great influence over society.
Example: Never underestimate the power of the hand that rocks the cradle.
Other Ways to Say: Maternal influence, Mothers shape society. - To give birth
Meaning: To deliver a baby.
Example: She’s scheduled to give birth next week.
Other Ways to Say: Have a baby, Deliver a child. - Drive someone up the wall
Meaning: To annoy or irritate someone.
Example: His constant humming drives his mother up the wall.
Other Ways to Say: Annoy, Irritate. - Mama’s boy
Meaning: A man overly attached to his mother.
Example: He’s a mama’s boy who calls home every day.
Other Ways to Say: Mother’s darling, Dependent son. - To take after someone
Meaning: To resemble a family member.
Example: She takes after her mother in kindness.
Other Ways to Say: Resemble, Inherit traits. - To be on the back burner
Meaning: To be delayed or given low priority.
Example: My plans are on the back burner until after the baby arrives.
Other Ways to Say: Put on hold, Delayed. - To be wrapped around someone’s finger
Meaning: To be easily controlled by someone.
Example: He has his mother wrapped around his finger.
Other Ways to Say: Easily influenced, Controlled. - Have one’s hands full
Meaning: To be very busy or overwhelmed.
Example: She has her hands full with three kids.
Other Ways to Say: Busy, Overwhelmed. - Mother’s boy/girl
Meaning: Someone very close to their mother.
Example: He’s a mother’s boy who always seeks her advice.
Other Ways to Say: Mom’s favorite, Close to mom. - Mother’s pride
Meaning: Someone or something a mother is very proud of.
Example: His success is his mother’s pride.
Other Ways to Say: Source of pride, Treasure. - Mother’s blessing
Meaning: Approval or support from one’s mother.
Example: He married with his mother’s blessing.
Other Ways to Say: Approval, Support.
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Mother Idioms
Choose the best answer for each question.
- What does “like mother, like daughter” mean?
a) They look alike
b) Daughter behaves like mother
c) They have the same job
d) They live together - A “mother hen” is someone who is:
a) Protective
b) Lazy
c) Quiet
d) Angry - “Mama bear” refers to a mother who is:
a) Gentle
b) Protective
c) Strict
d) Absent - To be “tied to your mother’s apron strings” means:
a) Independent
b) Dependent
c) Angry
d) Confused - “Mother knows best” means:
a) Mom is always right
b) Mom is always wrong
c) Mom is tired
d) Mom is busy - What is a “mom-and-pop” shop?
a) Large store
b) Family-run business
c) Online store
d) Chain store - “Throw the baby out with the bathwater” means:
a) Keep everything
b) Lose something valuable
c) Clean carefully
d) Throw a party - A “mama’s boy” is:
a) Independent
b) Close to mom
c) Angry
d) Lazy - “Mother Earth” refers to:
a) A person
b) The planet
c) A book
d) A city - “Mother of all [something]” means:
a) Small
b) Biggest
c) Old
d) New - To “give birth” means:
a) To adopt
b) To have a baby
c) To teach
d) To marry - “Drive someone up the wall” means:
a) Help someone
b) Annoy someone
c) Ignore someone
d) Praise someone - To “take after someone” means:
a) To resemble them
b) To avoid them
c) To fight them
d) To help them - “Have one’s hands full” means:
a) Be busy
b) Be calm
c) Be tired
d) Be happy
Answers to the Quiz
- b) Daughter behaves like mother
- a) Protective
- b) Protective
- b) Dependent
- a) Mom is always right
- b) Family-run business
- b) Lose something valuable
- b) Close to mom
- b) The planet
- b) Biggest
- b) To have a baby
- b) Annoy someone
- a) To resemble them
- a) Be busy
Conclusion
Idioms about mothers capture the deep bond, care, and influence moms have in our lives. By learning these 43 expressions, you can express emotions and ideas about motherhood more vividly and naturally. Use the quiz to test yourself and make these idioms part of your everyday English. This will enrich your language and help you connect better with others.