nipped in the bud

Related

squelchedForcibly suppressed or silenced
stifledForcibly held in
quashedAnnulled or suppressed
haltedCame to rest
stoppedBrought to a halt

prevented · thwarted · curtailed · crushed · smothered · early · seedling · frost · pruned · snipped · intercepted · killed · strangled · averted · blocked · derailed · headed off · cut short

Opposites

developmental outcome

nipped in the budnurtured

Cared for supportively

cultivated · fostered · encouraged · incubated · germinated

timing of intervention

nipped in the budput out fires

Eliminate active combustion

damage control · too little too late

intervention timing

nipped in the budtoo little too late

Insufficient and belated remedy

let slide · reactive

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