nip

(little) nip in the air

a cold feeling; cold weather. I felt a little nip in the air when I opened the window. There's more of a nip in the air as winter approaches.

See also: air

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: bud

nip something off (of) something and nip something off

to clip or cut something off something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Let me nip a few blossoms off the rosebush. I nipped off a few blossoms and made a bouquet.

nip and tuck

Fig. almost even; almost tied. The horses ran nip and tuck for the first half of the race. Then my horse pulled ahead. In the football game last Saturday, both teams were nip and tuck throughout the game.

See also: and, tuck

nip at someone or something

to bite at someone or something. The dog nipped at the visitor, but didn't cause any real harm. A small dog nipped at my heels.

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a nip and (a) tuck 

1. a medical operation to improve the appearance of your face I don't think you could look like that at her age without a little nip and tuck.

2. (American) small changes or reductions made in order to improve something A nip and a tuck in their household budget would give them the extra money they need.

See also: and, tuck

a nip in the air

if there is a nip in the air, the air is cold There's quite a nip in the air. I think you'll need your jacket on.

See also: air

be nip and tuck  (American informal)

if two people who are competing are nip and tuck, they have almost the same number of points and either of them could win There's no saying who's going to win this game. It's been nip and tuck all the way.

See also: and, tuck

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: bud

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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: bud