Puppy love is an informal term for feelings of love, particularly between young people during adolescence, so-called for its resemblance to the affection that may be felt towards a puppy dog. The term is often used in a derogatory fashion, describing emotions which are shallow and transient in comparison to other forms of love such as romantic love.
Puppy love, also commonly known as a "crush", can also describe the love or lust of a child or adolescent for an adult. For example, a student being attracted to their teacher. In this case, the term relates an infatuation which is not reciprocated. The term may meet with resistance from some young people as patronising and belittling of genuine emotion.
