nip in the bud

USAGE SUMMARY

"nip in the bud" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to stopping or preventing something from happening or becoming bigger or more serious. For example: "We had to nip the problem in the bud before it had a chance to worsen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

If so, the administration should nip in the bud such inclinations.

The New York Times

Most important, perhaps, is to nip in the bud the current rise in weight and diabetes.

The New York Times

But he's a tardy would-be assassin – she had already published the blog he was trying to nip in the bud.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Not only do they want to maintain complete control, they also want to nip in the bud anything and anybody who steps outside the political straitjacket.

The Guardian - Opinion

As a good English person, Ashton will have done everything to nip in the bud any vague impulse towards European defence.

The Guardian

That seems like quite an oversight, even leaving aside the fact that Duggan's death sparked terrifying riots across England – riots that the Met, particularly, failed to nip in the bud, at the cost of several further lives.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

"They're a nip-in-the-bud person".

The New York Times - Travel

They've been nipped in the bud.

The New York Times - Sports

"I think it should be nipped in the bud.

The New York Times

It needs to be nipped in the bud now.

The Guardian

That was going to get nipped in the bud.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be mindful of the context; while versatile, this idiom is best suited for situations where decisive action is required to stop a negative trend or behavior.

Common error

Avoid using "nip in the bud" for situations that require ongoing management or gradual solutions. This idiom implies a quick, decisive intervention to halt a problem's progression, not a long-term strategy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nip in the bud" functions as an idiomatic expression, primarily acting as a verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, with numerous examples illustrating its use in various contexts to describe preemptive action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The idiomatic phrase "nip in the bud" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that means to stop something at an early stage before it develops into a significant problem. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's versatile and appears in various contexts, primarily in News & Media and Formal & Business communications. While the phrase conveys a sense of decisive, preemptive action, you should still be careful to consider if it’s applicable to the context. Alternatives such as "stop in its tracks" or "squash" can be considered for similar meanings. With its consistent usage and clear intent, "nip in the bud" remains a valuable part of the English lexicon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nip it in the early stages

Emphasizes the importance of acting early to prevent escalation.

stop in its tracks

Emphasizes immediate halting of progress.

squash

Suggests forceful suppression or crushing of something.

quash

Similar to squash, but often used in legal or formal contexts.

extinguish

Implies putting an end to something, often a negative force or idea.

curtail

Focuses on limiting or reducing something's scope or development.

stifle

Highlights suppressing or restraining something from growing or expressing itself.

suppress

Indicates forceful prevention of something from developing or being expressed.

check

Implies a temporary halt or restraint to assess and control a situation.

halt

Suggests bringing something to an abrupt stop.

FAQs

How can I use "nip in the bud" in a sentence?

You can use "nip in the bud" to describe preventing something from becoming a problem, for example: "The administration should "nip in the bud" such inclinations."

What does "nip in the bud" mean?

The phrase "nip in the bud" means to stop something at an early stage before it has a chance to develop or become a problem.

What are some alternatives to "nip in the bud"?

Alternatives include "stop in its tracks", "squash", or "extinguish", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "nip in the bud" or "nipped in the bud"?

Both are correct, but "nip in the bud" is the infinitive form, used to express the action itself, while "nipped in the bud" is the past participle, used to describe something that has already been stopped early, as exemplified in sentences like "That was going to get "nipped in the bud"."