"Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater" is an idiomatic expression for an avoidable error in which something good or of value is eliminated when trying to get rid of something unwanted.[1][2][3]
A slightly different explanation suggests this flexible catchphrase has to do with discarding the essential while retaining the superfluous because of excessive zeal.[4][A]
History[edit]
This idiom derives from a German proverb, das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten. The earliest record of this phrase is in 1512, in Narrenbeschwörung (Appeal to Fools) by Thomas Murner, which includes a woodcut illustration showing a woman tossing a baby out with waste water. It is a common catchphrase in German, with examples of its use in work by Martin Luther, Johannes Kepler, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Otto von Bismarck, Thomas Mann, and Günter Grass.[6][7]
Thomas Carlyle adapted the concept in an 1849 essay on slavery:[7]
And if true, it is important for us, in reference to this Negro Question and some others. The Germans say, "you must empty-out the bathing-tub, but not the baby along with it." Fling-out your dirty water with all zeal, and set it careening down the kennels; but try if you can keep the little child![8]
Carlyle is urging his readers to join in the struggle to end slavery, but he also encourages them to be mindful of the need to try to avoid harming the slaves in the process.[8]
Alternative expressions[edit]
The meaning and intent of the English idiomatic expression is sometimes presented in different terms.
Throw The Baby Out With The Bathwater is an idiom. It is one of the most commonly used expressions in English writings. Throw The Baby Out With The Bathwater stands for (idiomatic) To discard, especially inadvertently, something valuable while in the process of removing or rejecting something unwanted.. Explore Urdupoint to find out more popular Idioms and Idiom Meanings, to amplify your writings
You don't throw the baby with the bath water as they say. إنك لا تقذف الطفل مع الحوض كما يقول الخواجات. Let's not throw out the baby with the bath water. لا يجب أن نرمي الطفل مع مياه الحمام But we can't throw out the baby with the bath water. لكن لا يمكننا رمي الطفل مع مياه الحمام. Don't throw out the baby with the bath water! لكن لا تضع الطفل تحت الدش الساخن! Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water, folks. دعونا لا نرمي الطفل بماء الحمّام، أيها الناس The difficulties I have mentioned are not reason enough to throw out the baby with the bath water. إن الصعوبات التي ذكرتها ليست سبباً كافياً للتخلص من كل شيء جملة وتفصيلاً. Meaning of throw the baby out with the bathwater in Englishthrow the baby out with the bathwater
idiomto lose valuable ideas or things in your attempt to get rid of what is not wanted
Removing and getting rid of things
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Translations of throw the baby out with the bathwater
in Chinese (Traditional)
把嬰兒和洗澡水一起倒掉, 把精華和糟粕一起丟掉…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
把婴儿和洗澡水一起倒掉, 把精华和糟粕一起丢掉…
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throw something off
throw something on
throw something out
throw something together
throw the baby out with the bathwater idiom
throw the book at someone idiom
throw up your hands in horror/despair idiom
throw your hat into the ring idiom
throw your voice idiom