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Cupboard Love for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: 'kəbərd_ləv

What does Cupboard Love really mean?

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Cupboard Love is a phrase that we often use to describe a type of affection or love that is conditional or based solely on receiving something in return, typically related to food or treats. It’s like when you have a pet dog or cat at home - they may come to you and show you lots of love and attention when they know you have some delicious treats in your hand. But when the treats are all gone, they might walk away and look for someone else who has more treats to give them.

Let me give you a little example to make it even clearer. Imagine that you have a friend who only wants to hang out with you when you have some awesome toys to play with. They may be really nice and friendly when they know you have toys, but as soon as the toys are gone, they might lose interest in you. Their love and attention is only focused on what they can get from you, rather than truly caring about you as a person. That's what we call "cupboard love."

Another way to understand it is by looking at a cupboard in the kitchen or dining room. When the cupboard is full of yummy snacks, everyone wants to be around it because they know they can enjoy those treats. But once the cupboard is empty, people may lose interest. The cupboard becomes less attractive because there's no immediate benefit to being near it anymore. In the same way, "cupboard love" is when someone shows affection or interest towards someone else only when they can get something in return, like food or treats.

I hope this explanation helps you understand the meaning of "cupboard love" a little better. Remember, it's a term we use to describe a type of love or affection that is conditional or based on receiving something in return.

Revised and Fact checked by Olivia Davis on 2023-10-28 08:50:00

Cupboard Love In a sentece

Learn how to use Cupboard Love inside a sentece

  • When a cat comes to you for food and attention, even if it doesn't really love you, it's just showing cupboard love.
  • My little brother always acts sweet and caring towards our grandparents because he knows they give him treats, it's just cupboard love.
  • If a friend only invites you over when they need help with their homework, that's not real friendship, it's cupboard love.
  • Whenever my neighbor's dog sees me holding a bag of dog treats, he suddenly becomes very friendly towards me, it's just cupboard love.
  • Sometimes people may pretend to be interested in your stories or jokes just because they want you to do something for them, that's cupboard love.

Cupboard Love Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.