in for an inch, in for a mile

in for an inch, in for a mile

English

Pronunciation

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Proverb

in for an inch, in for a mile

1. (chiefly US) Given that one is partly involved in or committed to a project, action, position, etc., there is no reason to refrain from becoming fully involved or fully committed.
   • 2005, Bill Burt and William D. Burt, The Downs, →ISBN, p. 29:

     Afterwards, she took him farther south. His uneasiness grew with every step. . . . "In for an inch, in for a mile," he muttered.

   • 2007, Maggie Petsch, "American oystercatcher shots are memorable," Daily News (Galveston, Texas), 31 Dec (retrieved 16 July 2009):

     I soon found the water lapping at my toes so I figured, “in for an inch, in for a mile” and continued on in after the oystercatcher.

Synonyms

• in for a dime, in for a dollar
• in for a penny, in for a pound

Related terms

Similar phrases using elliptical causation ("if/then"):

• another day, another dollar
• fall seven times, stand up eight
• finders, keepers
• first come, first served
• in for a dime, in for a dollar
• in for a penny, in for a pound
• laugh before breakfast, cry before supper
• least said, soonest mended
• mo' money, mo' problems
• no body, no crime
• no cross, no crown
• no fears, no tears
• no guts, no glory
• no harm, no foul
• no hero, no villain
• no losers, no winners
• no pain, no gain
• nothing ventured, nothing gained
• once bitten, twice shy
• out of sight, out of mind
• waste not, want not