What Does "Baby and Bathwater" Mean?
"Baby and bathwater" is an English idiom, referring to the idea of mistakenly throwing out something valuable (baby) while trying to discard something undesirable (bathwater).Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "baby and bathwater" used in a sentence:- Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater; not all the ideas in the proposal are bad.
- In their rush to modernize the curriculum, I hope they don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
- Be careful when making sweeping changes and ensure you don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Baby and Bathwater" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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