To be tied to someone's apron strings

Origin

For centuries, the apron was the undisputed uniform of the domestic realm, especially for mothers and housekeepers. Beyond its practical uses, the apron strings offered a literal tether: small children would often cling to them, not just for comfort, but as a subtle form of control, keeping them close and safe within the mother's orbit. This powerful visual of physical dependence became a potent metaphor. By the 19th century, the phrase captured the societal observation of an adult, often a son, who remained metaphorically bound by a parent's influence, unable to navigate life independently, still metaphorically clutching those protective, yet restrictive, apron strings.