Tender loving care

Question

The phrase "tender loving care" (often abbreviated to "TLC"), seems to be an enduring and quite unusual cliche. I read it this afternoon in a WWII memoir, referring to a well-used US submarine being refitted(1), and this made me think.
Does anyone know the origin of this phrase?

John H
Yorkshire, England
(1) Silent Running, by James F Calvert

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]The phrase "tender loving care" (often abbreviated to "TLC"), seems to be an enduring and quite unusual cliche. I read ... to a well-used US submarine being refitted(1), and this made me think. Does anyone know the origin of this phrase?[/nq]
Cassell's Dictionary of Slang says t.l.c. dates to 1960s, originally US. No clue as to who in particular said it, just that it came from "tender loving care."
I take it, then, that your reference was in a later-written memoir about the time of WWII, as opposed to anything written during that time? Or, it didn't use the abbreviation?
I suppose the literal phrase "tender, loving care" is ageless. Bartleby.com has:
The Second Part of King Henry the Sixth
Act III. Scene II.
K. Hen. Go, Salisbury, and tell them all from me, I thank them for their tender loving care;

Best Donna Richoux

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]The phrase "tender loving care" (often abbreviated to "TLC"), seems to be an enduring and quite unusual cliche. I read ... to a well-used US submarine being refitted(1), and this made me think. Does anyone know the origin of this phrase?[/nq]
The earliest hit I can find via ProQuest is the following, "Homecoming" by Bessie R. Wagstaff in the September 1889 issue of Godey's Lady's Book :

After a short visit I will return to that cozy home by lake Michigan, where a daughter, with her father's true brown eyes and cheery spirit, returning from her school-room work, ever displays a tender loving care for her mother, and who is a constant reminder of her brave soldier-father.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]The phrase "tender loving care" (often abbreviated to "TLC"), seems ... me think. Does anyone know the origin of this phrase?[/nq]
[nq:1]The earliest hit I can find via ProQuest is the following, "Homecoming" by Bessie R. Wagstaff in the September 1889 ... work, ever displays a tender loving care for her mother, and who is a constant reminder of her brave soldier-father.[/nq]
But of course there's lots of earlier stuff I didn't mention, like Shakspere and so forth.

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[nq:2]The phrase "tender loving care" (often abbreviated to "TLC"), seems ... me think. Does anyone know the origin of this phrase?[/nq]
[nq:1]Cassell's Dictionary of Slang says t.l.c. dates to 1960s, originally US. No clue as to who in particular said it, ... memoir about the time of WWII, as opposed to anything written during that time? Or, it didn't use the abbreviation?[/nq]
Yes and yes. The book was first published in 1995; it doesn't use the abbreviation. Calvert uses the phrase (in full) twice, referring in both cases to docked submarines.
[nq:1]I suppose the literal phrase "tender, loving care" is ageless. Bartleby.com has: The Second Part of King Henry the Sixth Act III. Scene II. K. Hen. Go, Salisbury, and tell them all from me, I thank them for their tender loving care;[/nq]
Goodness me! Well, that settles that - as usual, Mr S got there first. Thanks for your research.

John H
Yorkshire, England

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]The phrase "tender loving care" (often abbreviated to "TLC"), seems to be an enduring and quite unusual cliche. I read ... to a well-used US submarine being refitted(1), and this made me think. Does anyone know the origin of this phrase?[/nq]
Rev. W Awdry used the phrase to describe those who have more affection for the wagon carrying fuel and water than they do for the locomotive but who nonetheless are diligent in their duties to both.

John Dean
Oxford

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]The phrase "tender loving care" (often abbreviated to "TLC"), seems ... me think. Does anyone know the origin of this phrase?[/nq]
[nq:1]Rev. W Awdry used the phrase to describe those who have more affection for the wagon carrying fuel and water than they do for the locomotive but who nonetheless are diligent in their duties to both.[/nq]
Presumably it could also describe affection for coins and banknotes, as long as they were legal.

John H
Yorkshire, England

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]The phrase "tender loving care" (often abbreviated to "TLC"), seems to be an enduring and quite unusual cliche. I read it this afternoon in a WWII memoir, referring to a well-used US submarine being refitted(1), and this made me think.[/nq]
I have the impression, from vague memories of hearing it in conversation, that the abbreviation is hospital jargon and refers to affectionate treatment as an aid to convalescence.
Joe Fineman (Email Removed)

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Joe Fineman filted:
[nq:2]The phrase "tender loving care" (often abbreviated to "TLC"), seems ... well-used US submarine being refitted(1), and this made me think.[/nq]
[nq:1]I have the impression, from vague memories of hearing it in conversation, that the abbreviation is hospital jargon and refers to affectionate treatment as an aid to convalescence.[/nq]
The full expression is how "eyes watch girls walk" in the song "Music To Watch Girls By"...or maybe it's how the girls walk as the eyes watch them...pop songwriters are usually better about avoiding this sort of ambiguity..r

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]The phrase "tender loving care" (often abbreviated to "TLC"), seems ... well-used US submarine being refitted(1), and this made me think.[/nq]
[nq:1]I have the impression, from vague memories of hearing it in conversation, that the abbreviation is hospital jargon and refers to affectionate treatment as an aid to convalescence.[/nq]
McDonald's managers often used 'TLC' back in the late 50s when referring to the careful treatment we workers were supposed to give the hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and fries. We got rather tired of hearing it, I can tell you, but since they were probably instructed to use the expression while at Hamburger University*, they did right.

*Often referred to as 'Hamburger College'.

Charles Riggs
My email address: chriggs/at/eircom/dot/net

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]The phrase "tender loving care" (often abbreviated to "TLC"), seems ... me think. Does anyone know the origin of this phrase?[/nq]
[nq:1]Cassell's Dictionary of Slang says t.l.c. dates to 1960s, originally US. No clue as to who in particular said it, just that it came from "tender loving care."[/nq]
Looking at ProQuest, the earliest citation that includes both the letters and the expansion is from 1954.
Every nurse tries to give every patient that thing the hospital people call TLC tender loving care but she has to spread herself pretty thin in these days of the nursing shortage.

Changing Times , June, 1954.
and the next two are from 1962.
A mother brings a crying baby to the hospital the nurse picks it up and cuddles it to her bosom. The baby stops crying. The nurse turns and says, "All this baby needs is a little T L C (Tender Love and Care)." But T L C does not stop with the baby, we all need it. It is that one thing that gives life's need meaning and new reason to be.
Tri-State Defender , August 25, 1962.
There was a time when a nurse's primary function was to read thermometers, carry bedpans and adminster tender, loving care. Today, though nursing is still a deeply human art and "TLC" its most effective balm, medical progress is so rapid that the nurse must also be mistress of a vast array of new skills.

Changing Times , December 1, 1962.
Note that in the first of these last, it's "Tender Love and Care".

There's also a tantalizing reference to an section of the June, 1903, Atlantic Monthly , which supposedly has "TLC" within three words of both "care" and "love". This may be an OCR error, however. The section is ten pages long and nothing jumps out at me, but I've printed it out and I'll go through it more carefully later.

What I did see was a hoot. Most of it is ads for schools.

University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Va.
Letters, Science, Law, Medicine, Engineering.
Piedmont Virginia is too high for Malaria, while far enough south for mild winters. Session begins Sptember 15. Address Chairman, University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, Va.
The University of North Carolina.
Established in 1789.
New Dormitories, Water-works, Electric Lights, Central heating Plant.
CLIMATE DELIGHTFUL. LOCATION MOST HEALTHFUL
For Catalogue, etc., address
F. P. VENABLE, President.
That's all that was worth saying about it, I guess. "Miss Baldwin's School for Girls" (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) boasts a "fine fire-proof stone building".
There's also an add for "Baker's Great Bookshop" on John Bright Street in Birmingham, England that boasts "I can get any book ever published. Acnowledged the world over as the expert book finders extant." I wonder if they're still around.

Evan Kirshenbaum + HP Laboratories >If you think health care is
1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 >expensive now, wait until you seePalo Alto, CA 94304 >what it costs when it's free.

(650)857-7572
http://www.kirshenbaum.net/

Tender loving care

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