Baby Idioms

Baby Idioms

Babies. Bundles of joy (sometimes chaos!). But beyond the sleepless nights and endless diaper changes, babies have woven themselves into the fabric of our language through a surprising number of idioms. Let’s crawl through these playful expressions and see how they can add a little “milk and cookies” to your conversations.

List of Baby Idioms

Baby Idioms with Meaning and Examples

Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth

• Meaning: Born into a wealthy or privileged family.
• Example: Despite being born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he worked hard to achieve success on his own.

Cry over spilled milk

• Meaning: Worrying about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
• Example: There’s no use crying over spilled milk; let’s focus on finding a solution to the problem.

Bundle of joy

• Meaning: A baby, typically bringing happiness and joy to a family.
• Example: Ever since their bundle of joy arrived, their home has been filled with laughter and love.

Drop a bundle

• Meaning: To lose a large amount of money.
• Example: He dropped a bundle investing in that risky venture.

Hit the bottle

• Meaning: To start drinking alcohol heavily.
• Example: After his divorce, he started hitting the bottle pretty hard.

Not have a pot to pee in

• Meaning: To be very poor or destitute.
• Example: They were so poor they didn’t even have a pot to pee in.

To be as helpless as a babe in arms

• Meaning: To be utterly helpless.
• Example: When it comes to fixing cars, I’m as helpless as a babe in arms.

Throw the baby out with the bathwater

• Meaning: To discard something valuable while disposing of something worthless.
• Example: Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater; there are still some good ideas in this project.

Be in the family way

• Meaning: To be pregnant.
• Example: She’s in the family way and expecting twins.

Be as cute as a button

• Meaning: To be charming or adorable.
• Example: Look at that puppy; it’s as cute as a button!

Be a babe in the woods

• Meaning: To be naive or inexperienced.
• Example: He’s a babe in the woods when it comes to city life; he grew up in a small town.

Be the apple of someone’s eye

• Meaning: To be cherished or loved by someone.
• Example: His granddaughter is the apple of his eye; he dotes on her endlessly.

Be on the bottle

• Meaning: To be dependent on alcohol.
• Example: He’s been on the bottle for years; he needs help.

A babe in arms

• Meaning: A very young child, typically one who is still being carried.
• Example: The party was adults-only; no babes in arms allowed.

As easy as taking candy from a baby

• Meaning: Extremely easy.
• Example: Winning the game was as easy as taking candy from a baby.

Baby boom

• Meaning: A period marked by a significant increase in birth rates.
• Example: The 1950s saw a baby boom in many Western countries.

Baby blues

• Meaning: Feelings of sadness or depression experienced by a mother after giving birth.
• Example: She’s been struggling with the baby blues since her son was born.

Baby talk

• Meaning: Simplified or exaggerated speech used when talking to babies.
• Example: It’s cute when parents use baby talk with their infants.

Cry like a baby

• Meaning: To cry loudly and uncontrollably.
• Example: He cried like a baby when he lost his favorite toy.

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater

• Meaning: Don’t discard something valuable while getting rid of something worthless.
• Example: Let’s salvage what we can from the project; we shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

In the family way

• Meaning: Pregnant.
• Example: She’s in the family way again; they’re expecting their third child.

Like taking candy from a baby

• Meaning: Extremely easy.
• Example: Solving that math problem was like taking candy from a baby for her.

Throw out the baby with the bathwater

• Meaning: To discard something valuable while getting rid of something worthless.
• Example: Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater; there are still some good ideas in this proposal.

Wet behind the ears

• Meaning: Lacking experience or maturity.
• Example: He’s still wet behind the ears when it comes to managing a team.

Baby steps

• Meaning: Small steps or actions taken to achieve a larger goal.
• Example: She’s recovering from surgery and taking baby steps towards walking again.

Make a mountain out of a molehill

• Meaning: To exaggerate a minor issue and make it seem much more serious or difficult than it really is.
• Example: Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill; it’s just a small scratch on the car.

Sleep like a baby

• Meaning: To sleep deeply and soundly.
• Example: After the long hike, she slept like a baby.

Babe magnet

• Meaning: Someone who is very attractive to members of the opposite sex.
• Example: With his good looks and charming personality, he’s always been a babe magnet.

Baby face

• Meaning: A person with a youthful or innocent-looking face.
• Example: Despite being in his thirties, he still has a baby face.

Baby fat

• Meaning: Excess fat on a young child, typically around the cheeks and chin.
• Example: She’ll lose her baby fat as she gets older.

Baby on board

• Meaning: A sign displayed in a vehicle to indicate that there is a baby or young child as a passenger.
• Example: Be careful driving; there’s a baby on board.

Baby shower

• Meaning: A party held to celebrate the impending birth of a baby and to give gifts to the expectant mother.
• Example: They threw her a baby shower to celebrate the upcoming arrival of her twins.

Like a baby

• Meaning: To sleep very well.
• Example: After a long day at work, I slept like a baby.

Baby boomer

• Meaning: A person born during the post-World War II baby boom.
• Example: Many baby boomers are now reaching retirement age.

Crybaby

• Meaning: Someone who cries easily or frequently over minor issues.
• Example: Don’t be such a crybaby; it’s just a scratch.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

• Meaning: Don’t risk everything on a single venture.
• Example: He diversified his investments so that he wouldn’t be putting all his eggs in one basket.

As cute as a button

• Meaning: Very cute or charming.
• Example: Her new puppy is as cute as a button.

Not know which end is up

• Meaning: To be confused or disoriented.
• Example: With all the changes at work, I feel like I don’t know which end is up anymore.

Sweet as a baby’s breath

• Meaning: Extremely sweet or pleasant.
• Example: The fragrance of the flowers was as sweet as a baby’s breath.

A babe in the woods

• Meaning: Someone who is naive or inexperienced.
• Example: He’s a babe in the woods when it comes to cooking; he can barely boil water.

Big baby

• Meaning: Someone who behaves immaturely or childishly.
• Example: Stop being such a big baby and deal with your problems like an adult.

Cry over spilt milk

• Meaning: To worry about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
• Example: There’s no use crying over spilt milk; let’s focus on finding a solution.

Not have a pot to piss in

• Meaning: To be extremely poor.
• Example: He doesn’t have a pot to piss in; he’s living paycheck to paycheck.

Be born yesterday

• Meaning: To be naive or easily fooled.
• Example: Do you think I was born yesterday? I know when someone’s trying to trick me.

Born yesterday

• Meaning: Naive or inexperienced.
• Example: She might seem born yesterday, but she’s actually quite savvy.

As easy as pie

• Meaning: Extremely easy.
• Example: Solving that puzzle was as easy as pie for her.

Wet nurse

• Meaning: A woman who breastfeeds and cares for another woman’s child.
• Example: In the past, wealthy families often hired wet nurses to care for their babies.

Baby mama

• Meaning: The mother of a man’s child, especially when they are not married.
• Example: He’s been having issues with his baby mama lately.

Baby daddy

• Meaning: The father of a woman’s child, especially when they are not married.
• Example: She’s been having trouble getting child support from her baby daddy.

Throw out the bathwater but keep the baby

• Meaning: To discard something valuable while getting rid of something worthless.
• Example: Let’s make sure we don’t throw out the bathwater but keep the baby when restructuring the company.

Be a big baby

• Meaning: To behave immaturely or childishly. Example: Stop whining and acting like a big baby.

Be a crybaby

• Meaning: To cry easily or frequently over minor issues.
• Example: He’s such a crybaby; he gets emotional over the smallest things.

Be a bundle of joy

• Meaning: To bring happiness and joy to others.
• Example: Their new puppy is a bundle of joy; it’s brought so much happiness to their home.

Be a newborn

• Meaning: To be very young or inexperienced.
• Example: In terms of business, he’s practically a newborn; he’s still learning the ropes.

Taking Baby Steps

• Meaning: To proceed cautiously, one small step at a time.
• Example: We’re taking baby steps with this project to ensure we don’t make any major mistakes.

Sleep Like a Baby

• Meaning: To sleep very well and peacefully.
• Example: After a long day’s work, I slept like a baby.

Weak as a Baby

• Meaning: To be very weak or vulnerable.
• Example: After the surgery, he felt as weak as a baby.

Cry Baby

• Meaning: Someone who complains a lot or cries easily.
• Example: Don’t be such a cry baby; it’s just a scratch.

Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater

• Meaning: To discard something valuable while getting rid of something worthless.
• Example: Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater; there are still some good ideas in this plan.

Smooth as a Baby’s Bottom

• Meaning: Very smooth or soft.
• Example: After using the moisturizer, her skin felt as smooth as a baby’s bottom.

Change Your Diaper

• Meaning: To change one’s behavior or approach.
• Example: If you want to succeed in this company, you’ll need to change your diaper and start taking things more seriously.

Leave Someone Holding the Baby

• Meaning: To leave someone else responsible for a difficult situation or task.
• Example: When the project failed, he left his team holding the baby while he distanced himself from the situation.

Second Childhood

• Meaning: To behave childishly or return to a childlike state, often due to old age or dementia.
• Example: In his old age, he seemed to be entering his second childhood, becoming more playful and forgetful.

So next time you’re looking to add a touch of lightheartedness or a relatable reference to your communication, reach for a baby idiom! They’re sure to bring a smile (or a chuckle) to your conversations.

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