# babe in arms

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/babe-in-arms
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An infant.

## Examples

- She held the babe in arms close to her chest.
- The new mother sat quietly in the corner, cradling her babe in arms while the guests chatted.
- In the painting, a young woman gazes tenderly at the babe in arms she carries, her expression soft with wonder and exhaustion.

## Origin

From Middle English *Term?*, denoting a child young enough to require being carried.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.