What does “Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell.” mean?

"Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell" means that if you give someone a small amount of freedom or power, they will often try to take more than they are entitled to.

What context can I use the in?

Example

I let my brother borrow my car once, and now he thinks he can use it whenever he wants. Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell.

Example

I gave my coworker a small task to complete, and now he's trying to take over my entire project. Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell.

Example

My friend asked to borrow some money, and now he keeps asking for more. *Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell.

Is “Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell.” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?

“Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell.” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.

How would I use “Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell.” effectively in context?

You can use "Give him an inch and he'll take an ell" to warn someone about the behavior of a person who takes advantage of any small opportunity given to them. It emphasizes the idea that if you give someone a little bit of power or freedom, they will try to take even more. For example, if a friend asks to borrow your car for a day and then starts asking to use it for the entire week, you might say, 'Give him an inch and he'll take an ell.'

1Friendship
I let my friend crash at my place for a few days, and now he's asking if he can move in permanently. Give him an inch and he'll take an ell.
2Work
I gave my coworker a small task to complete, and now he's trying to take over my entire project. Give him an inch and he'll take an ell.
3Family
I allowed my sibling to use my laptop for a few hours, and now they're asking if they can keep it indefinitely. Give him an inch and he'll take an ell.

Similar phrases to “Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell.”:

Give someone an inch, and they'll take a mile

If you give someone a small amount of power or freedom, they will take advantage of it and try to take even more.

Example

I let my friend borrow my bike for a day, and now he's asking if he can keep it for a month. Give someone an inch, and they'll take a mile.

Take advantage of someone's kindness

To exploit or misuse someone's generosity or willingness to help.

Example

He always takes advantage of his sister's kindness by asking her for money.

Exploit a loophole

To take advantage of a technicality or gap in the rules or system.

Example

The company exploited a legal loophole to avoid paying taxes.

Good things to know:

Where does the phrase “Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell.” come from?

The origin of the phrase "Give him an inch and he'll take an ell" is unknown.

Is “Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell.” common in everyday conversation?

"Give him an inch and he'll take an ell" is not as common as some other proverbs, but it is still used in everyday conversation. It is often used to describe situations where someone takes advantage of a small favor or opportunity.

What tone does “Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell.” have?

"Give him an inch and he'll take an ell" conveys a tone of warning and caution. It is used to highlight the behavior of individuals who exploit any small amount of power or freedom given to them.

Can “Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell.” be used in informal and formal settings?

"Give him an inch and he'll take an ell" can be used in both informal and formal settings. It is a proverb that conveys a cautionary message about people who take advantage of others. You can use it in various contexts, such as conversations with friends, family, or colleagues, as well as in more formal situations like presentations or writing.

Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?

It is commonly used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'I let my coworker handle a small task, and now he's trying to take over my entire project. Give him an inch and he'll take an ell.' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the proverb even if used alone, like saying 'Give him an inch...' to imply that someone is taking advantage of a situation.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

abuse someone's trust
overstep boundaries
push the limits
exploit a situation
milk it for all it's worth

Antonyms

respect boundaries
appreciate what's given
show gratitude
give credit where it's due