Origin of Phrases - N
Nip In The Bud
At least as early as the 14th century, gardeners knew that many plants produce an excessive number of blossoms. So it became customary to pinch off the majority in order that those which were left might produce large fruit. This practice improved the quality of the garden produce, but it was devastating to individual buds. It became proverbial that when a bud was nipped off, no fruit would be produced at that point.