NIPINTHEBUD

nip in the bud

Verb

  1. To remove a bud from a plant to prevent flower and fruit from forming.
  2. To stop something at an early stage.
    If you see a bad habit begin to develop, try to nip it in the bud so that it does not become ingrained, issues are easier to sort out the earlier they are addressed.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: nip in the bud
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

Need help with a clue?
Try your search in the crossword dictionary!