Meaning
To stop something early before it grows or worsens, cutting off trouble at its source with swift, decisive action.
Origin
From 16th-century gardening, where nipping buds stopped unwanted plants-Henry Lyte's 1578 herbal notes 'nippe it in the budde' for weeds. By 1607, it was metaphorical, as in a play halting a scheme 'in the bud. ' It reflects Renaissance horticulture and a budding English love of order, growing into a crisp idiom for squashing trouble early, rooted in nature's lessons.
Variants
- In the bud
- Nip the bud
Usage Examples
- Let's nip this gossip in the bud before it spreads.
- He nipped the argument in the bud with a quick apology.
- Nip it in the bud; don't let that cold get worse.