看绝望的主妇学英语习语：Nip sth in the bud

Nip sth in  the bud :To stop something before it has an opportunity to become established ; to fix a small problem before it becomes a big problem(防患于未然). As in “Many serious illnesses can be nipped in the bud if they are detected early enough.”（如果及早发现，许多严重的疾病都能被消灭在萌芽状态）

中文释义：Nip sth in the bud表示防患于未然，把坏事消灭于萌芽阶段（take preventive measures)，近义表达有prevention is better than cure. 举例：Discipline is about nipping things in the bud while love is always subtle and sincere.（严在防患于未然，爱须真诚到细微）。补充：bud表示芽、花蕾，budding可用来表示“初露头角的”（beginning to show a particular talent），举例：The rosebushes are budding.(玫瑰花正含苞待放）