"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]
Earliest record of the phrase from Narrenbeschwörung (Appeal to Fools) by Thomas Murner, 1512
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]
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]
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 expressionsedit
The meaning and intent of the English idiomatic expression is sometimes presented in different terms.
^In other words, the idiom is applicable not only when throwing out the baby with the bathwater, but also when someone might throw out the baby and keep the bathwater.[5]
Citationsedit
^Cheng Lim Tan. (2002). Advanced English Idioms for Effective Communication, p. 52.
^"What Does "Throwing the Baby out with the Bath Water" Mean?". Wisegeek.com. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
^Jewell, Elizabeth, ed. (2006). The Pocket Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus (2nd edition), p. 53.
^Shaw Bernard and Edwin Wilson. (1961). Shaw on Shakespeare: an Anthology of Bernard Shaw's Writings on Plays and Production of Shakespeare, p. xvii.
^Kirkpatrick, Betty. (1999). Clichés: Over 1500 Phrases Explored and Explained, pp. 180-181, citing George Bernard Shaw's "Parent's and Children" (1914).
^Shaw Bernard and Edwin Wilson. (1961). Shaw on Shakespeare: an Anthology of Bernard Shaw's Writings on Plays and Production of Shakespeare, p. xvii.
Cheng Lim Tan. (2002). Advanced English Idioms for Effective Communication. Singapore: Singapore Asian Publications. ISBN978-981-4122-35-1; OCLC 226051976
Nichols, James. (1995). Assessment Case Studies: Common Issues in Implementation with Various Campus Approaches to Resolution. New York: Agathon Press. ISBN978-0-87586-112-8; OCLC 33132059
Quinion, Michael (6 April 2013). "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water". Newsletter. World Wide Words. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
Shaw Bernard and Edwin Wilson. (1961). Shaw on Shakespeare: an Anthology of Bernard Shaw's Writings on Plays and Production of Shakespeare. New York: E.F. Dutton. reprinted in 2002 by Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, New York. ISBN978-1-55783-561-1; OCLC 49690475
Look up throw the baby out with the bathwater in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Karl Pilkington - Throwing the Baby Out with the Bathwater on YouTube — audio excerpt from the Ricky Gervais Show
April 11, 2024
throw, baby, with, bathwater, idiomatic, expression, avoidable, error, which, something, good, value, eliminated, when, trying, something, unwanted, earliest, record, phrase, from, narrenbeschwörung, appeal, fools, thomas, murner, 1512a, slightly, different, e. 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 Earliest record of the phrase from Narrenbeschworung Appeal to Fools by Thomas Murner 1512A slightly different explanation suggests this flexible catchphrase has to do with discarding the essential while retaining the superfluous because of excessive zeal 4 A Contents 1 History 2 Alternative expressions 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Citations 3 3 Bibliography 4 External linksHistory editThis idiom derives from a German proverb das Kind mit dem Bade ausschutten The earliest record of this phrase is in 1512 in Narrenbeschworung 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 Gunter 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 editThe meaning and intent of the English idiomatic expression is sometimes presented in different terms Throw out the champagne with the cork 9 Empty the baby out with the bath 10 Don t scour the Teflon when you wash a pan 11 References editNotes edit In other words the idiom is applicable not only when throwing out the baby with the bathwater but also when someone might throw out the baby and keep the bathwater 5 Citations edit Cheng Lim Tan 2002 Advanced English Idioms for Effective Communication p 52 What Does Throwing the Baby out with the Bath Water Mean Wisegeek com Retrieved May 31 2013 Jewell Elizabeth ed 2006 The Pocket Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus 2nd edition p 53 The World Book Dictionary Vol 1 p 146 Nichols James 1995 Assessment Case Studies Common Issues in Implementation with Various Campus Approaches to Resolution p 16 Wilton David 2004 Word Myths Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends pp 66 67 a b Quinion Michael 6 April 2013 Don t throw the baby out with the bath water Newsletter World Wide Words Retrieved 6 April 2013 a b Wilton p 67 Shaw Bernard and Edwin Wilson 1961 Shaw on Shakespeare an Anthology of Bernard Shaw s Writings on Plays and Production of Shakespeare p xvii Kirkpatrick Betty 1999 Cliches Over 1500 Phrases Explored and Explained pp 180 181 citing George Bernard Shaw s Parent s and Children 1914 Shaw Bernard and Edwin Wilson 1961 Shaw on Shakespeare an Anthology of Bernard Shaw s Writings on Plays and Production of Shakespeare p xvii Bibliography edit Ammer Christine 1997 The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms Boston Massachusetts Houghton Mifflin Harcourt ISBN 0 395 72774 X ISBN 978 0 395 72774 4 Cheng Lim Tan 2002 Advanced English Idioms for Effective Communication Singapore Singapore Asian Publications ISBN 978 981 4122 35 1 OCLC 226051976 Nichols James 1995 Assessment Case Studies Common Issues in Implementation with Various Campus Approaches to Resolution New York Agathon Press ISBN 978 0 87586 112 8 OCLC 33132059 Quinion Michael 6 April 2013 Don t throw the baby out with the bath water Newsletter World Wide Words Retrieved 6 April 2013 Shaw Bernard and Edwin Wilson 1961 Shaw on Shakespeare an Anthology of Bernard Shaw s Writings on Plays and Production of Shakespeare New York E F Dutton reprinted in 2002 by Applause Theatre amp Cinema Books New York ISBN 978 1 55783 561 1 OCLC 49690475 Wilton David 2004 Word Myths Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends New York Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 517284 3 ISBN 978 0 7394 5593 7 OCLC 54767339External links edit nbsp Look up throw the baby out with the bathwater in Wiktionary the free dictionary Karl Pilkington Throwing the Baby Out with the Bathwater on YouTube audio excerpt from the Ricky Gervais Show Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Don 27t throw the baby out with the bathwater amp oldid 1213792004, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
