English Explanatory Dictionary

give them an inch and they'll take a mile

English dictionary entry

Meanings

proverb
  1. Granting someone a limited concession will encourage them to take greater liberties.

Word forms

give them an inch and they'll take a mile give them an inch and they'll take an ell give someone an inch and someone will take a mile give someone an inch and he'll take a yard

Etymology

Modified variant of give them an inch and they'll take an ell, to adjust for the ell's obsolescence due to the standardisation of the imperial system.

Related words

in for a penny, in for a pound

Derived words

give an inch
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