in for a dime, in for a dollar

English

Etymology

Alteration of “in for a penny, in for a pound”, adapted to the denominations of the American currency (£ & d → $ & ¢). Nevertheless, “in for a penny, in for a pound” is used in the United States as well.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɪn fɔɹ ə ˈdaɪm ɪn fɔɹ ə ˈdɒ.lɚ/
Audio (AU) (file)

Proverb

in for a dime, in for a dollar

Americanised form of in for a penny, in for a pound.
- 1983, Allen Drury, Decision, p. 356:
  In for a dime, in for a dollar, he thought crazily, and said what he had to say in a voice he forced to stay level and calm.
- 1998, Ellen Miller, Like Being Killed, p. 47:
  In for a dime, in for a dollar. I whispered to Gerry, “Count me in”. Heroin was unromantic, neither sacred nor satanic; it was simply inevitable.
- 1999, David A. Gauntlett, Insurance Coverage for Intellectual Property Assets, p. CCXCI:
  This obligation flows from the principle recognized in virtually all jurisdictions that when the policyholder is required to defend any one claim, all elements of the case must be defended (i.e., “in for a dime, in for a dollar”).
- 2003, Leo Kolber, Leo: a life, p. 183:
  I had bought some of Cemp’s MGM stock for myself. “Listen”, I told Edgar, “in for a dime, in for a dollar”. There was no point in selling at $8. If we were going to lose we might as well lose the whole thing.

Synonyms

in for an inch, in for a mile

Related terms

Similar phrases using elliptical causation ("if/then"):

another day, another dollar
fall seven times, stand up eight
finders, keepers
first come, first served
in for an inch, in for a mile
in for a penny, in for a pound
laugh before breakfast, cry before supper
least said, soonest mended
mo' money, mo' problems
no body, no crime
no cross, no crown
no fears, no tears
no guts, no glory
no harm, no foul
no hero, no villain
no losers, no winners
no pain, no gain
nothing ventured, nothing gained
once bitten, twice shy
out of sight, out of mind
waste not, want not