inch

noun1 of 2

a measure of length; 1/12 of a foot (2.54 centimeters)

• “Give him an inch and he will take a yard.”Tatoeba
• “Give someone an inch, and they will take a mile.”Tatoeba

Sentences from Tatoeba show real usage. A word can have several meanings, so a sentence may use another one.

verb2 of 2

(followed by a preposition) To advance very slowly, or by a small amount (in a particular direction).