1. To be sent to the sidelines or the locker room in a game by one's coach. Primarily heard in UK. The keeper had already allowed three goals before he took an early bath in the first half of the game.

2. To fail or experience an insurmountable setback before or very early on in a competition. Primarily heard in UK. The rising political star has taken an early bath ahead of the elections after making several racist and misogynistic claims to a local newspaper. I ended up taking an early bath when my carburetor blew out shortly after the race began.