nip+in+the+bud
11nip in the bud — idi to stop (something) before it can develop or mature (in the earliest stages): an ambitious project nipped in the bud …
12To nip in the bud — Nip Nip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Nipped}, less properly {Nipt}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Nipping}.] [OE. nipen; cf. D. niipen to pinch, also knippen to nip, clip, pinch, snap, knijpen to pinch, LG. knipen, G. kneipen, kneifen, to pinch, cut off, nip, Lith.… …
13nip in the bud — Synonyms and related words: annihilate, bereave of life, block, brake, carry away, carry off, chloroform, cut down, cut off, cut short, deadlock, deprive of life, destroy, dispatch, dispose of, do away with, do for, do to death, end, execute,… …
14nip in the bud — Meaning Put a stop to something while it is still in its early development. Origin From the de budding of plants …
15nip in the bud — stop at the very beginning …
16nip it in the bud — If you nip something in the bud, you deal with a problem when it is still small, before it can grow into something serious …
17nip something in the bud — nip (something) in the bud to prevent a small problem from getting worse by stopping it soon after it starts. The strike was nipped in the bud by some clever negotiation …
18nip something in the bud — CUT SHORT, curtail, check, curb, thwart, frustrate, stop, halt, arrest, stifle, obstruct, block, squash, quash, subdue, crack down on, stamp out; informal put the kibosh on. → nip * * * nip something in the bud informal phrase to stop a bad… …
19nip something in the bud — before your children start spending most of their free time in front of the television or computer, nip it in the bud Syn: cut short, curtail, check, curb, thwart, frustrate, stop, halt, arrest, stifle, obstruct, block, squash, quash, subdue,… …
20nip it in the bud — stop it before it grows, prevent it from spreading If the students plan a revolt, we ll nip it in the bud …