“Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater” is the proverb that warns us not to lose the good while discarding the bad. Here is what it means, where it comes from, how to use it, and a few sayings that share its caution.
What Does “Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater” Mean?
The proverb means don’t get rid of something valuable or essential while you are trying to get rid of something unwanted. In your haste to remove the bad part of a thing — a flawed plan, a troubled organisation, an old tradition — be careful not to throw away the good and important part along with it. The vivid image is of emptying a baby’s bath and carelessly tossing out the baby together with the dirty water.
Origin of the Proverb
The saying comes from the German proverb “das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten” (“to pour out the child with the bath”). It was first recorded in 1512 by the German satirist Thomas Murner, who even illustrated it with a woodcut of a woman tipping a baby out with the water. The phrase passed into English in the nineteenth century — the writer Thomas Carlyle helped popularise it — and has been a favourite warning against careless reform ever since.
Examples in a Sentence
- “The old system had flaws, but scrapping it entirely throws the baby out with the bathwater.”
- “Reform the rule by all means, but don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
- “Cutting the whole department to save money throws the baby out with the bathwater.”
Similar Proverbs
- Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face — don’t harm yourself in trying to harm a problem.
- Burn not your house to rid it of the mouse — don’t use a remedy far worse than the trouble.
- Throw out the dirty water but keep the clean — separate the bad from the good before discarding.
- Look before you leap — think carefully before taking drastic action.
For more sayings about good sense and caution, see our smart thoughts and the full library of proverbs and their meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater” mean?
It means don’t get rid of something valuable while discarding something unwanted — be careful not to lose the good part along with the bad.
Where does the proverb come from?
It comes from the German proverb “das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten,” first recorded by Thomas Murner in 1512, and entered English in the nineteenth century.
What is a similar proverb?
“Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face” and “burn not your house to rid it of the mouse” share the warning against a careless or excessive remedy.
