bud

bud out

[for a flowering plant or tree] to develop buds. How early in the spring do the trees bud out around here? The trees bud out in early spring.

See also: out

nip something in the bud

Fig. to put an end to something before it develops into something larger. (Alludes to destroying a flower bud before it blooms.) I wanted to nip that little romance in the bud. The whole idea was nipped in the bud.

See also: nip

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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.

See also: nip

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nip something in the bud

to stop something soon after it has begun If this problem isn't nipped in the bud, it will soon get totally out of hand.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of nip (to cut) and bud (the part of a plant that develops into a flower)

See also: nip