Why Do We Say “Nip It in the Bud”?
Let’s get one thing clear: If you’ve been saying “nip it in the butt,” then we’re here to nip that idea in the bud right now. The correct phrasing has always been “nip it in the bud” — an idiom dating back to the 16th century with very literal roots
in the world of gardening. It means to stop a possible problem before it grows out of control, largely used in the context of situations with a concerning downward trajectory. This phrase evolved out of a line in a 1595 romance work, Piers Plainnes Seaven Yeres Prentiship. Author Henry Chettle...
