spare the rod and spoil the child
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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.
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Words nearby spare the rod and spoil the child
spared, spare part, spare-part surgery, sparerib, spareribs, spare the rod and spoil the child, spare time, spare tire, spare tyre, sparge, sparid
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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