nip it in the bud

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to stop a problem at an early stage

Why this phrase?

A gardener pinches off a flower bud before it blooms; a problem is pictured being removed before it can grow.

Example

“We nipped the rumour in the bud before it spread.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

can of worms Informal · CEFR B1

a complicated problem that causes trouble the moment it is touched

get out of hand Neutral · CEFR B1

To become impossible to control.

a hot potato Informal · CEFR B2

A controversial or awkward issue that no one wants to deal with.

in a pickle Informal · CEFR B2

in a difficult or embarrassing situation

the elephant in the room Neutral · CEFR B2

an obvious and important problem that everyone notices but avoids discussing

the tip of the iceberg Neutral · CEFR B2

a small visible part of a much larger hidden problem or situation

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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