in for an inch, in for a mile

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

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, William D. Burt, The Downs, →ISBN, page 29:

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

   • 2007 December 31, Maggie Petsch, “American oystercatcher shots are memorable”, in Daily News, Galveston, Texas, 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