è shā méng yá

nip a relationship in the bud

The phrase 'nip a relationship in the bud' means to prevent a relationship from developing or progressing at an early stage. It suggests taking decisive action to stop something before it can grow or become more significant. In Chinese, '扼杀萌芽' conveys the same idea of stopping something right at its inception, emphasizing the importance of acting early to manage potential future issues.