Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No substitution required’.
All criminal tendencies must be nipped on the bud during childhood.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. nipped in the bud.
Error Concept: Related to the incorrect use of the idiom.
What is wrong: The phrase “nipped on the bud” is grammatically incorrect and not a valid idiomatic expression in English.
Grammar Concept: The correct idiom is “nipped in the bud”, which means to stop something at an early stage before it becomes a serious problem. The preposition “in” is essential for the idiom to be correct.
Incorrectness of the concept in context: The use of “on” in “nipped on the bud” is wrong because the standard phrase uses “in”. Using the wrong preposition breaks the idiomatic meaning and makes the sentence sound awkward or incorrect.
Correction: Replace “nipped on the bud” with “nipped in the bud” to convey the correct meaning.
Corrected phrase: nipped in the bud
Final sentence: All criminal tendencies must be nipped in the bud during childhood.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.