# babe in the woods

idiom

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

## Meaning

A person who is innocent, naive, inexperienced, or helpless, especially with respect to an unfamiliar situation or environment.

## Examples

- He's a babe in the woods when it comes to online shopping.
- Fresh out of university, she was a babe in the woods in the fast-paced corporate world.
- The young diplomat, a babe in the woods amid seasoned negotiators, nodded along to terms he barely understood, trusting too readily in promises that would soon unravel.

## Origin

From the ballad "The Children in the Wood".

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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.