babes in the wood
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Criminals in the stocks, or pillory.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era. Figurative class: Euphemism (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).
Common questions
What does “babes in the wood” mean?
Criminals in the stocks, or pillory.
Is “babes in the wood” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.