Give him an inch, and he'll take an ell.
Meaning: Allowing someone a small concession encourages them to demand progressively larger ones.
Origin: John Heywood's 1546 collection has it. An ell was a measure of cloth of about 45 inches, so the greedy person takes some forty times what was offered. Once ells were forgotten, English swapped in a mile, from about 1900.
More proverbs about Wisdom
- Who in Janiveer sows oats, gets gold and groats. — Sowing oats in January's harsh cold yields abundant harvests through bold, timely action…
- Jests, like sweetmeats, are often sour sauce. — Humor that relies on mockery or cruelty leaves a bitter aftertaste despite its initial ap…
- Judge not of men or things at first sight. — Snap judgments based on initial appearances miss the complexity that emerges through clos…
- Wood half burnt is easily kindled. — Partially damaged resolve or commitment reignites more readily than creating fresh determ…
- Kindnesses, like grain, increase by sowing. — Generosity multiplies when shared freely, returning abundance to those who give it.
- The taste of the kitchen is better than the smell. — Experiencing something firsthand surpasses merely anticipating or imagining it from a dis…
From our false friends
- Firma — Actually means 'signature'. Metti la tua firma = Put your signature here.
- Magazzino — Actually means 'warehouse' or 'storeroom'. A magazine (periodical) is una rivista.
- Conveniente — Actually means 'affordable', 'good value', or 'suitable'. È conveniente = It's a good dea…