A question about an expression or an idiom
Hi !
I am looking for an expression in English that means if somebody is allowed to do something , he or she jump on this opportunity and asks for more.
There is an expression in Russian that literally says "He is given a finger and he will eat up the whole hand".
Is there something similar in English ?

Thanks,
Boris.

Question

A question about an expression or an idiom
Hi !
I am looking for an expression in English that means if somebody is allowed to do something , he or she jump on this opportunity and asks for more. 
There is an expression in Russian that literally says "He  is given a finger and he  will eat up  the whole hand".
Is there something similar in English ?

Thanks,
Boris.

Answer

Give him an inch and he'll take a mile.

Answer

In Spanish we have got the same expression ('dale la mano y te cogerán el brazo'). The English translation is:

'give him an inch and he'll take a mile'.

Saludos.

Answer

Yes , the Russian expression also has negative context.  
I would rather compare it to the the greedy farmer from the fairy tale about the goose that laid golden eggs :-)

Answer

Is the Russian expression negative? "If you give him an inch, he'll take a mile." has a very negative meaning. It means that someone will take advantage of the slightest power they are given, so they must be carefully controlled. Is that what you mean? In your question, 'jumping at an opportunity and asking for more' are positive traits, not negative.

Answers · 5

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