nip in the bud
To remove a bud (from a plant) to prevent flower and fruit from forming.
nip
/nɪp/
noun 12verb 7adj 2name 1
Collocations
5ADJ.
close, flat, little, over, together
VERB + NIP
give, going, got, need, needs, take
NIP + NOUN
brandy, home, i've, loo, nonsense, problem
PREP.
down, in, into, out, with
ADV.
again
Definitions
verb
1
To catch and enclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon.
May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell, Down, down, and close again, and nip me flat, If I be such a traitress.
2
To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip.
The small shoots ... must be nipt off.
3
To benumb [e.g., cheeks, fingers, nose] by severe cold.
4
To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.
5
To annoy, as by nipping.
And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip.
noun
1
A playful bite.
The puppy gave his owner’s finger a nip.
2
A pinch with the nails or teeth.
3
Briskly cold weather.
There is a nip in the air. It is nippy outside.
The day had only just broken, and there was a nip in the air; but the sky was cloudless, and the sun was shining yellow.
4
A seizing or closing in upon; a pinching
the nip of masses of ice
5
A small cut, or a cutting off the end.
noun
1
A small amount of food or drink, (particularly) a small amount of liquor.
I’ll just take a nip of that cake.
He had a nip of whiskey.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
noun — a small sharp bite or snip
noun — the property of being moderately cold
- chilliness
- coolness
noun — the taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into
noun — (offensive slang) offensive term for a person of Japanese de
noun — a small drink of liquor
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
nip and tuck
So evenly matched that the advantage shifts from one to the other, and the outcome is uncertain.
It was nip and tuck with me between holding on to my stock and being sold out; but by great industry and prudence I managed to keep a little ahead and my mouth above water.
in the nip
Nude.
The streaker ran across the playing field in the nip.
nip at
To bite or pinch with small actions.
Example Bank
601
May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell, Down, down, and close again, and nip me flat, If I be such a traitress.
Wiktionary02
The small shoots ... must be nipt off.
Wiktionary03
And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip.
Wiktionary04
The puppy gave his owner’s finger a nip.
Wiktionary05
There is a nip in the air. It is nippy outside.
Wiktionary06
The day had only just broken, and there was a nip in the air; but the sky was cloudless, and the sun was shining yellow.
WiktionaryUsage Notes
i Register
In some senses, nip is marked as slang, vulgar, informal, dated, offensive. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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