cling to the skirts of

Etymology
From the image of a child clinging to his or her mother's skirts for reassurance and safety.

Verb

 * 1) To depend upon and be unwilling to relinquish.
 * 2) To be closely associated with or proximate to.
 * 1) To be closely associated with or proximate to.
 * 1) To be closely associated with or proximate to.
 * 1) To be closely associated with or proximate to.