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
He added that there are all kinds of good gifts that God has entrusted to us that we can become addicted to so it is important to not throw the baby out with the bath water, and not to throw the beer out with the baptismal water.
'The Beer Drinker's Guide to God' book claims to reveal true nature of God
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!" Dinny the Docker (retired) had a "bath" only once a month, but his was pretty clean if you compare it to Victorian standards.
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
I'm not for a minute suggesting that we "throw the baby out with the bath water" but I think it is time to at least change the bath water before the baby dies of ecclesiastical hypothermia.
Warning against ecclesiastical hypothermia
teacher education associations, administrator associations, school boards associations, etc., are trying to throw the baby out with the bath water.
The pros and cons of NCLB
Hence the expression: "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."
LIFE IN THE 1500s
You've heard the admonition, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water." In some instances, you may know that the subject of a wonderful photo was not your most ideal camper or that a counselor will not be asked back for a second season.
Taking great camp photos
"But do we throw the baby out with the bath water?"
Hot-button handling: social studies and hot-button issues go hand in hand. Here's how to prevent inevitable sparks from flaming out of control
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