To throw the baby out with the bathwater
Example: Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater when fixing problems.
Definition
"To throw the baby out with the bathwater" means to accidentally discard something valuable or important while trying to get rid of something unwanted. It warns against eliminating the good along with the bad during problem-solving or change.
Etymology
The phrase "to throw the baby out with the bathwater" originates from a German proverb dating back to the 16th century, highlighting the risk of careless disposal. The vivid image suggests that in washing a baby, one might mistakenly throw away the baby along with dirty bathwater, emphasizing caution.
Learn to use this expression actively
"To throw the baby out with the bathwater" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 106 commonly used expressions.
Would you like to not only understand these expressions, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select English as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
