spare the rod, spoil the child

A form of spare the rod and spoil the child — If one does not discipline a child, they will never learn obedience and good manners.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. alternativeAlternative form of spare the rod and spoil the child.
Cite this entry
APA

spare the rod, spoil the child. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spare%20the%20rod%2C%20spoil%20the%20child

MLA

“spare the rod, spoil the child.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spare%20the%20rod%2C%20spoil%20the%20child. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “spare the rod, spoil the child,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spare%20the%20rod%2C%20spoil%20the%20child.

Source: spare the rod, spoil the child on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.