nip it in the bud

it means to stop someting before it grows/gets worse. sort of like nipping a flower when it's still a bud so it can't grow.

-holy cow! my zit is huuge!
-yeah, you'd better nip it in the bud before it gets worse.

by Souma July 28, 2004

nip it in the bud

Quite possibly the 5 wisest words¹ ever spoken on TV.

¹ Spoken by Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith Show, circa 1960's.

Barney Fife: "Nip it in the bud! You got to nip it in the bud! ... Nip it! You go read any book you want on the subject of child discipline, and you'll find that every one of 'em is in favor of bud-nippin'... Only one way to take care of it."

Andy Taylor: "Nip it."

Fife: "In the bud."

by TheNcredibleEgg October 22, 2006

nip it in the bud

A bud is a flower before it blooms. So if you nip it with scissors, you stop it before it blooms. To prevent a disaster.

you got to nip it in the bud

by Olbaid July 28, 2004

Nip it in the bud.

to stop something in it's early stages

You should really nip that behavior in the bud before it becomes a bad habit. Nip it in the bud.

by Aegean_33 March 18, 2015

Nip it in the Bud

1) to trim a plant stem where buds appear to encourage more flowering or leaf growth instead of stem growth
2) to stop anything prior to it growing larger or more extreme, related to #1
3) to obtain a small amount of weed and/or other substance that belongs to someone else without their knowledge
4) to pinch or grab someone's buttocks in a playful manner CAUTION: current sexual mores require obtaining signed & notarized document of consent prior to engaging in this behavior

1) To encourage additional blooms, take each stem and nip it in the bud after the blossom has faded
2) I tried to play sick to miss school but Mom nipped it in the bud by taking my temperature
3) Every time I get weed from Cooter he nips it in the bud then expects me to throw him some
4) I feel free to admire my man's fine ass & to nip him in the bud since I obtained the required document of consent.

by ezmom63 July 30, 2019

Nip it in the bud

To pinch some bud (weed) and roll it into a joint.

John said nip it in the bud, so when he did he shared it with his friends

by lllXG29Xlll December 25, 2017