to have a baby/to expect a baby

When I talked about my friend in the listening lesson, I said…

My oldest friend in the world just had her first baby!

Did you notice I used the verb have? When a woman is pregnant, you say she is having a baby, OR she is expecting a baby.

 

Baby Boomers

A ‘baby boom’ is a large number of babies born at a particular time. You may have heard or seen the expression ‘Baby Boomers’ in American movies or books. ‘Baby Boomers’ are a demographic: people who were born after the Second World War (during the years 1945-1965). Soldiers returned home from the war and started making families! Because of the large number of them, baby boomers have had an incredible impact on American life.

 

Baby steps

Because babies are small, they take very small steps and move slowly (when they are learning how to walk). If you take ‘baby steps,’ you are doing something very slowly and carefully, and in small pieces.

Baby steps to financial preparation (The Globe & Mail)

Baby steps on medical e-records already saving money: study (National Post)

Cuban-American relations: Baby Steps (The Economist)

 

A designer baby

This is a new phenomenon. Because of advances in medical technology and ‘genetic engineering’, parents can ‘design’ the perfect baby instead of leaving it up to nature. They can choose the sex of their baby, the hair colour, the eye colour, or other things.

 

 

A baby shower

This is a party thrown for a woman expecting a baby! Her friends and family give her gifts, all the things that she will need for the baby.

 

…as soft/smooth as a baby’s bottom

This is a common simile: newborn babies have very soft skin, so when people want to describe how soft something is, they compare it to a baby’s bottom (*bottom is polite way of saying ‘bum’!)

 

…like taking candy from a baby

= something is very easy
This is another common simile. It’s very easy to take something away from a baby. A baby might cry, but it can’t fight you or come after you!

 

Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water!

= when you get rid of something you don’t want, be careful not to get rid of something you do want
= don’t throw out good stuff with the bad stuff

Don’t sell your car just because you don’t like the stereo in it. You’ll be throwing out the baby with the bath water. Buy a new stereo!

Just because you don’t like her appearance doesn’t mean you shouldn’t listen to what she has to say. Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water.