Nip it in the bud vs. Nip it in the butt

Nip it in the bud

/nɪp ɪt ɪn ðə bʌd/

To stop something at an early stage before it becomes a problem.

Examples:

Address the issue early to nip it in the bud.Let's nip this misunderstanding in the bud right now.She nipped it in the bud before it became a problem.

Synonyms:

This word has no synonyms

Antonyms:

overlook

Nip it in the butt

/nɪp ɪt ɪn ðə bʌt/

To stop something at an early stage to prevent it from getting worse or becoming a serious problem.

Examples:

Preempt problems by addressing them early.She tackled the issue to avert bigger troubles.The teacher prevented chaos by intervening swiftly.

Synonyms:

preventcurtailarrest

Antonyms:

ignoreallow

Ways to tell them apart:

• Nip it in the bud comes from gardening and means to stop something before it grows into a bigger problem.
• A bud is an undeveloped or embryonic shoot and typically occurs in the leaf axil.
• Nip it in the butt is an incorrect version of the idiom and should be avoided.
• Both phrases sound similar, but bud refers metaphorically to stopping problems early.
• Remember that bud ties to the origin of nipping a problem before it blossoms.