nip something in the bud

意味

to stop a problem at an early stage before it grows

問題を大きくなる前の段階で食い止める.

例文

1. 1If a child starts telling lies, it's best to nip it in the bud.
2. 2The manager heard the gossip about job cuts and nipped it in the bud at once.
3. 3Aisha noticed a small leak under the sink and nipped it in the bud before it damaged the floor.
4. 4We need to nip this in the bud now, or every student will start using phones in class.
5. 5Why didn't the council nip it in the bud when the first few people dumped rubbish there?

文法

変化するのは nip だけで、nips、nipping、nipped となる。something には it や this のような短い目的語が入る。