give an inch and take a mile
- idiom
- Informal
:
dar un dedo y tomar un brazo
- She warned him not to give an inch and take a mile when negotiating the contract.
Examples
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Parents often complain that if they give an inch and take a mile, their children will keep demanding more.
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If you give an inch and take a mile, they will always want more.
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If you give an inch and take a mile with your boss, you might soon find yourself in trouble.
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Don't give an inch and take a mile to your kids!
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If you give an inch and take a mile with your boss, you might soon find yourself in trouble.
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Parents often complain that if they give an inch and take a mile, their children will keep demanding more.
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Don't give an inch and take a mile with your friends; they might start asking for even more favors.
Synonyms
3
8.1
Agree to too much in a deal and lose money
1
8.4
Use a small favor to get much more
To trick someone and steal all their money and belongings
Surface Forms
Morphology
give + an + inch + and + take + a + mile
The phrase contrasts a very small unit ('inch') with a much larger one ('mile') combined with 'give' and 'take', so a learner who knows the words can infer the basic idea that a small concession leads to a much larger appropriation. However, the expression is a conventionalized proverb with a pragmatic nuance about exploitation that is not entirely predictable from the parts alone, making it only partially transparent to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Give an inch and take a mile paints a picture of someone who is given a tiny measure, an inch, and then takes a very large one, a mile. That's why it means 'if you allow a small favour or little freedom, people may try to take much more'.