What does the phrase 'spare the rod' mean?

Question

What does the phrase 'spare the rod' mean?

Answer 1

No no, it reads "spare the rod, spoil the child", meaning if you dont apply some discipline, you nurture a spoilt child.

Answer 2

A lot of people misinterpret this passage. Yes, it's from the Bible. Yes the whole quotation is "Spare the rod and spoil the child, but it does not refer to beating. The rod is the rod of discipline, not a piece of bamboo for hitting people with. What it means is that you should discipline your children as they grow up or you will ruin them.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Spare the rod and spoil the child means that if you do not discipline the child by beating him (with a rod - not spanking with your hand), he will grow up to be a lout.  Seems to apply more today than when the phrase was coined!!

Answer 4

dont spankthe children...dont hit children..spare the rod literaly means hav mercy on the rod n dont use it to hit children

Answer 5

the phrase "spare the rod and spoil the child" means that if you dont spank you child when they are naught, they will grow up to be spoiled".

Answer 6

This comes from a victorian saying 'spare the rod and spoil the child' meaning if a child was not physically punished it would make them naughty.

Answer 7

The full phrase is:-

"Spare the rod, and spoil the child"

It means that if as a parent, you do not punish your child properly, they will grow up not respecting you and others. It doesn't necessarily mean that you must hit the child. Although the saying is as old as the hills, and possibly the original reference was less metephorical.

Answer 8

It means not to hit the children, this was in Tom Sawyer ;D

and the teacher explained it to us.

Answer 9

It means a lack of discipline and moderation of their instinctive behaviour creates unruly children.

Spare the rod, spoil the child.

Answer 10

It comes from the biblical exhortation to beat your children regularly. 'Spare the rod and spoil the child'

Nice book, the bible!

Answer 11

I remember discussing this a while back, I think it refers to parents who spank their children. "Spare the Rod" meaning don't do it, spare the children the embarrassment/pain.  

Answer 12

Don't spank children

Answer 13

it means if you do not discipline your children you will spoil their asses. it is in no way meaning " hey dont teach your children, let them be spoiled rotten brats, oh god for the sake of mankind let the spoiled children rule the world with their selfish attitudes.  it means keep  those bad kids in line and they will learn what it means to be a righteous human being  

Answer 14

"spare the rod, spoil the child"

meaning if you dont disipline your kids they will be spoilt rotten

Answer 15

usually the phrase is "spare the rod, spoil the child", which means do not spank/ punish the child (ie: rod = spanking/ punishment), instead, spoil the child.