tree hugger en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
From tree + hugger. Popularized after the Chipko movement in India of the 1970s, who resorted to actual group hugging of trees in order to prevent deforestation. Tommy James claims that his song "Draggin' the Line" (1971) popularized the phrase.
Meanings
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(derogatory, slang) An environmental campaigner, especially one who aims to restrict logging and especially one who uses dramatic, attention-grabbing methods of obstruction.
Animal liberationists like Rosmarino resented the tree huggers' insensitivity to animals and reluctance to risk jail time, while more mainstream environmentalists like AFR's Jeff Berman disagreed with the bunny huggers' wacky morality and in-your-face tactics. The two groups' differences were in full view as they teamed up to parade through Vail last winter.
1999, Mother Jones Magazine (Mar–Apr 1999, page 64)
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(slang) A hippie.
She'd heard the term from American soldiers about these 'free love' people. 'Tree huggers' who reveled in sex, drink and drugs.
2014, Zoe Ambler, The Road of Darkness:Until fairly recently, even the idea of a MBS connection was dismissed by Western medicine as the province of New Age tree huggers, so it had very little mainstream credibility.
2020, D. L. Kline, Simple Spirituality:The idea of naturopathic doctors had always formed an image in my mind of old, bearded, tree-huggers who boiled roots and made poultices out of gross things to treat weird people who believed in that "natural" stuff.
2005, Erin Bell, Miss Diagnosed: Unraveling Chronic Stress:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| tree-hugger | alternative | lexicographic | |
| tree huggers | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| treehugger | alternative | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Relateds
Synonyms
greeniac · lentil-weaver · yoghurt-knitter · eagle freak · posy sniffer · prairie fairy
Translations (8)
fr écolo (derogatory term for environmental campaigner, anti-logging protester) · pl zwariowana ekolożka (derogatory term for environmental campaigner, anti-logging protester) · sv trädkramare (derogatory term for environmental campaigner, anti-logging protester) · de Baumschmuser (derogatory term for environmental campaigner, anti-logging protester) · pl zwariowany ekolog (derogatory term for environmental campaigner, anti-logging protester) · de Baumschmuserin (derogatory term for environmental campaigner, anti-logging protester) · fi ituhippi (derogatory term for environmental campaigner, anti-logging protester) · fi puunhalaaja (derogatory term for environmental campaigner, anti-logging protester)