inch (redirected from inches)

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 someone 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

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. He refuses to give an inch on health and safety issues. (sometimes + on)

See also: give

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 someone 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: give, mile, take

not trust someone 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

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every inch the 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

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

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