Love Them to Pieces Meaning
Definition: To love someone to an extreme degree.
Origin of Love Them to Pieces
One definition of to pieces is through and through or completely. This seems to fit with the meaning and could show that a person loves each and every piece of someone
A more recent synonymous idiom is love to bits. Yet another similar idiom is to love one to death. Some people speculate that love to pieces signifies loving someone to the point of wanting to ruin or destroy that person. In other words, you want to love that person until they break into pieces.
This might seem crazy, but there is some evidence that love and aggression are related. This could explain the desire to hug someone so hard that it hurts, or the desire of parents to lightly bite their newborn babies’ fingers. It could also explain the expression I love you so much that I could eat you up!
It is common for someone to follow the expression love one to pieces with but and a reason why that person can be difficult.
Examples of Love Them to Pieces
In the dialogue below, two friends are discussing the significant other that one of them has.
Tina: I heard that you and Ria moved in together. How is that going?
Keanu: Well, you know that I love Ria to pieces, but she is so messy! She never cleans anything up! I’m constantly trying to tidy up after her.
Tina: That can be stressful.
Keanu: Yeah, it’s a little annoying, but I guess it’s a small price to pay for living with the love of my life.
In this example, one friend is discussing a problem he has with his pet dog.
Jonah: I am so stressed about my dog.
Tatiana: Why? What happened?
Jonah: She keeps destroying things around my house when I go to work. I love her to pieces, but I don’t know what to do with her! If she keeps up this behavior, I might have to get rid of her.
Tatiana: If you really love her, you should try doggie daycare. They can watch her during the day, and then she’ll have exercised a lot and be calm when you get her back at night.
More Examples
This excerpt is from an advice column. A woman loves her husband’s parents, but doesn’t want them to visit for too long.
- My husband is supportive either way, although I’m sure he’d like them to stay for weeks. Other than this issue I have a wonderful relationship with my in-laws and love them to pieces. –Denver Post
The second example is also from an advice column. A man is considering leaving his wife, although he loves her very much.
- I am almost ready to pack up a few belongings and leave and not tell her why, but I love her to pieces and would miss her. –Chicago Tribune
Summary
The phrase love you to pieces means to truly adore someone.
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