inch

come within an inch of someone or something and come within a hair('s breadth) of someone or something

to come very close to someone or something. The bullet came within an inch of Heather. The car came within a hair of the bus.

See also: come, within

come within an inch of doing something

Fig. almost to do something; to come very close to doing something. I came within an inch of going into the army. I came within an inch of falling off the roof.

See also: come, doing, within

every inch a something and every inch the something

completely; in every way. (Usually strengthening a following adjective.) Mary is every inch the schoolteacher. Her father is every inch a gentleman.

See also: every

Give someone an inch and he'll take a mile. and Give someone an inch and he'll take a yard.

Prov. Be generous to someone and the person will demand even more. (Describes someone who will take advantage of you if you are even a little kind to him or her.) If you let Mark borrow your tools for this weekend, he'll wind up keeping them for years. Give him an inch and he'll take a mile.

See also: and, give, mile, take

inch along (something)

to move slowly along something little by little. The cat inched along the carpet toward the mouse. Traffic was inching along.

See also: along

inch back

to move back very slowly. The trainer inched back from the angry tiger. The tiger inched back and sprang.

See also: back

inch by inch

Fig. one inch at a time; little by little. Traffic moved along inch by inch. Inch by inch, the snail moved across the stone.

inch forward

to move forward very slowly. Inch forward very slowly, and try not to make any noise. The cat inched forward, taking care not to alert the bird to its presence.

See also: forward

inch one's way across something and inch oneself across something

to creep slowly across something. The little green worm inched its way across the branch. It inched itself across the leaf.

See also: across, way

inch one's way along something and inch oneself along something

to creep slowly on or along something. I inched my way along the ledge and almost fell off. Sharon inched herself along the side of the bridge.

See also: along, way

inch over

to move over a tiny bit. Could you inch over a little? I need just a little more room. Please inch over a little.

within an inch of one's life

Fig. very close to losing one's life; almost to death. The accident frightened me within an inch of my life. When Mary was seriously ill in the hospital, she came within an inch of her life.

See also: life, within

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not budge/give an inch

to refuse to change your opinion or agree to even very small changes that another person wants I keep asking her to think again, but she won't budge an inch. (sometimes + on ) He refuses to give an inch on health and safety issues.

See trust an inch

not trust somebody an inch  (British & Australian)

to not trust someone at all He's charming enough but I wouldn't trust him an inch.

See also: trust

be every inch something

to be a particular kind of person in every way He looked every inch the slick, city businessman.

See also: every

beat somebody to within an inch of their life

to attack someone so violently that they almost die She was beaten to within an inch of her life on a back street in London.

See also: beat, life, within

come within an inch of doing something

to very nearly do something, especially something dangerous or exciting I came within an inch of losing my life on the rocks below.

See also: come, within

Give somebody an inch and they'll take a mile.

something that you say which means that if you allow someone to behave badly at all, they will start to behave very badly I'm always wary about making concessions to these people. Give them an inch and they'll take a mile.

See also: and, give, mile, take

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every inch of somewhere

all of a place Cassandra knows every inch of Boston. A layer of grease covered every inch of the engine room.

See also: every

every inch the something also every inch a something

completely like something He looked every inch the slick, city businessman. From his white running shoes to his baseball cap, he looks every inch a Californian.

Usage notes: used with verbs like look, seem, and be

See also: every

give an inch

to agree to part of what someone wants or says My ex-husband never gave an inch on anything we disagreed about, even when I was right.

Etymology: based on the saying give someone an inch and they'll take a mile (if you agree to part of what someone wants they will get all of what they want)

See also: give

within an inch of your/its life

nearly completely Caroline hoped the information she had would frighten Mr. Mott within an inch of his life.

See also: life, within