Give an inch and he'll take a mile



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, inch, mile, take

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Campbell['kæmbl]
Corneliakawr-NE-lee-ah (German), kor-NE-lyah (Italian), kawr-NAY-lee-ah (Dutch), kər-NEE-lee-ə (English), kər-NEEL-yə (English)German, Romanian, Italian, Dutch, English, Ancient Roman
Valentin['væləntin]
PietariPEE-e-tah-reeFinnish
Rodgers['rɔdʒəz]
Zinovia-Greek