tied to someone's apron strings
idiomPart ofapron
tied to someone's apron strings — idiom
1. controlled by, or unable to act independently of, a parent (especially a mother)
1.idiom
Definition
controlled by, or unable to act independently of, a parent (especially a mother) or another older person, often in a way that other people find childish.
Example
At twenty-eight, Brian was still tied to his mother's apron strings and asked her permission for everything.
Critics said the young senator was tied to the governor's apron strings and had no opinions of his own.