spare the rod and spoil the child

spare the rod and spoil the child

proverb If you avoid disciplining your child for behaving badly, they will never grow out of that bad behavior and will become spoiled as a result. I just think it's crazy that Susan and Jonathan let their children dictate the terms of the house like that. They have got to lay down the law—spare the rod and spoil the child.
See also: and, child, rod, spare, spoil
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

spare the rod and spoil the child.

Prov. You should punish a child when he or she misbehaves, because if you do not, the child will grow up expecting everyone to indulge him or her. Jane: How can you allow your little boy to be so rude? Ellen: It distresses me to punish him. Jane: lean understand that, but spare the rod and spoil the child.
See also: and, child, rod, spare, spoil
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

spare the rod and spoil the child

Discipline is necessary for good upbringing, as in She lets Richard get away with anything-spare the rod, you know. This adage appears in the Bible (Proverbs 13:24) and made its way into practically every proverb collection. It originally referred to corporal punishment. It is still quoted, often in shortened form, and today does not necessarily mean physical discipline.
See also: and, child, rod, spare, spoil
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

spare the rod and spoil the child

People say spare the rod and spoil the child, to mean that if you do not punish a child severely when the child behaves badly, their behaviour will become worse. Kids needed authority figures — spare the rod and spoil the child. Note: People sometimes just say spare the rod. We believe in discipline. We don't spare the rod.
See also: and, child, rod, spare, spoil
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

spare the rod and spoil the child

if children are not physically punished when they do wrong their personal development will suffer. proverb
See also: and, child, rod, spare, spoil
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌspare the ˈrod and ˌspoil the ˈchild

(saying) if you do not punish a child for behaving badly, he/she will behave badly in future
See also: and, child, rod, spare, spoil
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

spare the rod and spoil the child

Discipline makes for a good upbringing. This warning appears in the Bible (“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes,” Proverbs 13:24), and is repeated in numerous subsequent proverb collections. Although today we frown on corporal punishment, the term persists, the rod now usually signifying discipline in a looser sense. Stanley Walker, who delighted in mixing metaphors and clichés, wrote: “He never spared the rod or spoiled the broth” (The Uncanny Knacks of Mr. Doherty, 1941).
See also: and, child, rod, spare, spoil
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • it takes a village
  • village
  • teach a man to fish
  • a good example is the best sermon
  • bad habits die hard
  • a burnt child dreads the fire
  • burnt
  • best-laid plans go astray, the
  • the best-laid plans go astray
  • the best-laid plans of mice and men
References in periodicals archive
Spare the rod and spoil the child, they used to say, when beating children was still socially acceptable.
Kids don't respect kid gloves
After 15 or 20 years this is the result: spare the rod and spoil the child. Funny how the old sayings come true.
Vent your spleen
Spare the rod and spoil the child, they said when I was a kid.
Mellor - Man of the people: A TEST ... FOR COMMONSENSE
Henry Hildebrand, pastor of the Aylmer Church of God, says most of his parishioners adhere to the Biblical adage of "spare the rod and spoil the child" but emphasises that corporal punishment would be used only as a last resort.
Family torn apart in spanking dispute (Canada)
Unfortunately, growing numbers appear to have parents who would prefer to "spare the rod and spoil the child" rather than teach them the Ten Commandments, one of which states "Thou shall not steal".
THEME FOR THE DAY
Like childrearing methods based on mottoes such as "spare the rod and spoil the child," these teaching methods were designed to prepare people to accept their place in rigid hierarchies of domination and unquestioningly obey orders from above, whether from their teachers in school, supervisors at work, or rulers in government.
Education for the Twenty-first Century
Spare the rod and spoil the child? Fifty years ago this adage was regarded as unquestionable.
Spare the rod and spoil the child?
Those people who say spare the rod and spoil the child should take a look at the man I became - even I don't like myself.
Dr Miriam: Scarred by my dad's discipline; LETTER OF THE DAY
In Proverbs, it says, in effect, spare the rod and spoil the child. I think that the Lords are wrong in saying that smacking is not in the best interests of the child.
Letter: Keep on smacking
There's an old saying: spare the rod and spoil the child, but we mustn't talk about corporal punishment.
Target the yobs
All the do-gooders who spare the rod and spoil the child have created a very bad situation causing turmoil, terror and fear.
Ashamed of situation
Think about the old biblical injunction, "Spare the rod and spoil the child." Today we call it what it is: child abuse.
From domination to partnership: reclaiming our future