Ah, TLC—an acronym that’s all about the fuzzy feelings. Who wouldn’t want some tender loving care? It’s believed to have first made its way into our vernacular through the hallowed halls of hospitals. You could almost picture Florence Nightingale herself doling out a bit of TLC to the weary and wounded. Flash forward to the mid-1900s, and songwriters were crooning about it enough to fit into a jukebox marathon.
And you know how language likes to stretch out. These days, TLC extends far beyond the realm of healthcare. Whether you’re nurturing a wilting houseplant back to verdant health, or giving your vintage car the waxing of a lifetime, a little TLC goes a long way. It’s personally replaced “tea and sympathy”—perhaps because not everyone sees the restorative power of a cuppa like our friends across the pond do.
But let’s not slow down on this highway of heartfelt expressions. “Tea and sympathy” had its own cultural moment when in 1956, Robert Anderson’s play of the same name hit the big screen. This phrase, more popular in Britain, painted a picture of serene afternoons and a soundtrack of understanding ears ready with a listening embrace.
Imagine a world without TLC. Hard, isn’t it? Researching its roots back to a hospital setting kinda gives a whole new meaning to the song “TLC” by the 90s R&B group—thoughtful of them to name themselves after such a comforting acronym!
So whether it’s tea or TLC, a touch of mindful affection can transform many a hurt. Next time you avoid a broken rib by giving your dashed hopes and dreams some TLC, think fondly of how far this phrase has come and how much further it’ll go.
Yours in linguistic love, Lex Lovejoy 2023-10-05
