Babe in the woods

From Fresh Dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.3 Adjectival phrase

English

Etymology

From the ballad "The Children in the Wood"

Noun

babe in the woods (Plural: babes in the woods)

1. ((idiomatic{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}})) An innocent or naive person.
2. ((idiomatic{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}})) A defenseless or incapacitated person.

Adjectival phrase

babe in the woods (not comparable)

1. A likeness to an infant lost within some woods.