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the strings on an apron, used for securing it around one’s person.
tie to someone’s apron strings, to make or be dependent on or dominated by someone:
He has never married because he’s tied to his mother’s apron strings.
Historical Examples

Miss Honey made an obedient snatch at Caroline’s apron strings, and darted forward with a long roll of her skates.
McClure’s Magazine, Vol. XXXI, No. 3, July 1908. Various

apron strings are coming into fashion the bluer the better hey, Prince?
Rose in Bloom Louisa May Alcott

A girl of eight, and tied to the worthy Ann’s apron strings!
The Clammer and the Submarine William John Hopkins

Tie him to your apron strings and lead him to bang-up hotels?
The Blind Lion of the Congo Elliott Whitney

But I confess it will be poor fun living at Gablehurst as a little boy tied to his mother’s apron strings.
Tom Tufton’s Travels Evelyn Everett-Green

True, the daughter was tied to the apron strings of her mother.
Villa Elsa Stuart Henry

When they broke through the ring of witch burners and snatched Marm Perry off the pyre, her apron strings had burned in two.
Those Times And These Irvin S. Cobb

They are tied to the apron strings of the government at Washington.
The New Freedom Woodrow Wilson

Eve Chesley says that he is tied to his mother’s apron strings.
Mistress Anne Temple Bailey

As long as the other congregations were tied to the apron strings of Fulneck they could never attain to independent growth.
History of the Moravian Church J. E. Hutton

see: tied to someone’s apron strings