Meaning & use
lawnmower parents
Last updated
Meaning
nounpluralinformaldisapproving
Parents who try to remove every difficulty from their children's lives so the children never face failure or hardship.
Grammar: Always plural when talking about both parents; use 'a lawnmower parent' for one.
Patterns
- lawnmower parents
- a lawnmower parent
- be a lawnmower parent
Lawnmower parents often call the school to complain about a teacher's grade.
Some say lawnmower parents mean well, but they stop children from learning to solve problems.
The article criticized lawnmower parents for clearing every obstacle instead of letting kids struggle a little.
Word forms
| singular | lawnmower parent |
|---|
Common combinations
- helicopter parents
- Helicopter parents hover; lawnmower parents mow down obstacles.
- overprotective parents
- Lawnmower parents are a type of overprotective parents.
- lawnmower parenting
- Lawnmower parenting can leave students unprepared for university.
Synonyms and how they differ
- helicopter parents
- These parents constantly watch and hover, while lawnmower parents focus on removing obstacles.
- overprotective parents
- A broader term; lawnmower parents are a specific kind who clear the path.
- snowplow parents
- Very similar in meaning, often used in American English.
Word family
- lawnmower parenting noun
- The practice of removing all obstacles for one's children.
Commonly confused: lawnmower parents or helicopter parents?
lawnmower parents vs helicopter parents
Helicopter parents hover and monitor closely; lawnmower parents actively remove difficulties. The two overlap but are not identical.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'lawnmower parents' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Lawnmower parents' is a figurative term for parents who clear away difficulties. Option 0 is literal, option 2 is unrelated, and option 3 is the opposite of the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lawnmower parents”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.