an early bath

an early bath

A premature end to something. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Take an early bath, Edwards! I don't tolerate illegal hits on my playing field!
See also: bath, early
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

an early bath

BRITISH
If a football or rugby player has an early bath, they are sent off the pitch before the end of the game, because they have broken the rules. When it is a midfield player who takes an early bath, the impact is almost zero. Ref Graeme Allison had no hesitation in sending the 16-year-old for an early bath. Note: In football and other sports, players who are sent off cannot return to the field and so can take a bath before the game is finished.
See also: bath, early
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • bath
  • not have a bar of (something)
  • stick it out
  • stick it to the end
  • wear
  • wear (something)
  • not bear the sight of (someone or something)
  • not stand the sight of (someone or something)
  • stand the sight of (someone or something)
  • bear the sight of (someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
A ball boy finally handed him a white towel as Edmund ensured he had an early bath.
Messi had given the home side an early lead, but they were forced to play for almost an hour a player short after defender Clement Lenglet was sent for an early bath following a coming together with midfielder Pere Pons.
After all, at this time of year being sent for an early bath is more of a reward than a punishment.
And hopefully, they'll ALL be taking an early bath very soon.
But now quite a few players I have noticed are exaggerating a foul when tumbling over and holding on to their leg apparently hoping for an opposing player to be shown the red card and off to an early bath. Something has to be done about this rule.
Boca lost three of their back four in quick succession as Jonathan Silva, Gino Peruzzi and Daniel Diaz were dismissed before Carlos Tevez was head-butted by Gabriel Mercado to spark a huge brawl which saw Mercado and his River teammate Pisculichi take an early bath.
Six minutes before the break Haule stooped to head in from six yards before leading with the elbow for the second time in the game earned him an early bath just after the break.
As the pair went for an early bath, other footballers then began to brawl on the pitch, with one picking up the pitchfork which had been left out by a groundsman.
Winters made no mistake from the penalty spot while Black headed for an early bath.
Even Homeland's Damian Lewis can't save this slop from an early bath. (Cert pG, 2011).
He then controversially sent Everton''s Jack Rodwell for an early bath in the derby at Goodison in October but that red card was subsequently rescinded.
A CENTURION has taken an early bath as English Heritage prepares for a Roman Summer at its North East properties.
A second bookable offence for Suk Won-jung, who first sliced Tinga on 23 minutes and then obstructed him on the 34th minute helped further mute Seongnam's potency as the youngster walked for an early bath, leaving the Koreans with ten men.
As it is, newspaper columnists and TV pundits have been forecasting an early bath for our national hopes.
The game finished with both sides down to 10 men with Morecambe full-back Danny Curtis also sentenced to an early bath for a professional foul on Jake Robinson.