throw the baby out with the bath

throw the baby out with the bath(water)

Fig. to dispose of the good while eagerly trying to get rid of the bad. (Fig. on the image of carelessly emptying a tub of both the water inside as well as the baby that was being washed.) In her haste to talk down a project that had only a few disagreeable points, she has thrown the baby out with the bathwater. Hasty action on this major spending bill will result in throwing out the baby with the bath.
See also: baby, bath, out, throw
References in periodicals archive ?
I am on the side of the murdered" Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino, speaking at an anti-police brutality rally "We all have to cut back at the moment because things are tough, but we mustn't throw the baby out with the bath water" Actor Jeremy Irons, campaigning against possible BBC cutbacks "Very nice - a lot more polite" Francis Maude, former Tory cabinet minister, on his transition from the House of Commons to the House of Lords "Bruno is definitely becoming nastier.
QUOTES OF THE DAY
THE recent story by Dan O'Neill about Dinny the Docker (retired) (May 16) had me remembering that old saying: "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water
Don't throw the baby out; Yousay IN YOUR OPINION..
In an interview, he said that excesses should be got rid of, "but don't throw the baby out with the bath water".
Duke's claim; World Tonight
are trying to throw the baby out with the bath water.
The pros and cons of NCLB
I don't think you should throw the baby out with the bath water.
WEATHERING THE STORM MUTUAL FUND INVESTORS ADVISED TO CONSIDER THE TRANSFER COST FOR JUMPING SHIP
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water,'' warned Bruce Doering, executive director of the International Cinematographers Guild.
SAVE EIDC, GUILDS URGE 1-STOP PERMITS PROTECT JOBS
You don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water,'' he said.
FILMS PACK A PUNCH; STUDY SHOWS 2,300 ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN YEAR'S TOP 50 MOVIES
But I wouldn't want to us throw the baby out with the bath.
SIMI WEIGHING BETTER PROTECTION FOR REGION'S TREES
The challenge is that they don't throw the baby out with the bath water,'' said Burt Ely, president of the consulting firm Ely & Co.
CITIGROUP SAYS 10,400 WORKERS WILL LOSE JOBS
Carter was smart not to throw the baby out with the bath water, so to speak.
VIDEO : `X-FILES' MOVIE COULD DRAW YOU IN
Idioms browser ?
Full browser ?