babes in arms
Tots being held
Babes in arms are infants young enough to be carried, not yet able to walk.
The phrase often appears in contexts emphasizing vulnerability or innocence, particularly when describing casualties of war or disaster: The bombing killed soldiers and babes in arms alike.
It can also suggest someone who is inexperienced or naive about a situation, though this figurative use is less common than the literal one.
- toddlersVery young children
- infantsVery young children
- childPerson before puberty
- newbornsRecently delivered infants
- bundle of joyAffectionate term for infant
tiny tots · little ones · innocence · naivety · tenderfoot · greenhorn · youngsters · kid · nursery · musical theatre · fledgling · beginner · apprentice · rookie · new blood · unseasoned · minors · juveniles
babes in armsgrown-up
Mature person
adult · elder · senior citizen · old-timer · mature adult
babes in armsindependent
Free from external control
self-sufficient · grown-up · autonomous · self-reliant · on one's own
babes in armsgrown-ups
Mature, responsible people
adults · elders · senior citizens · old-timers · full-grown
babe, baby, babies, babyish, babyhood, arms, arming, armful, armless