thin end of the wedge
Something that if allowed or accepted to a small degree would lead to systematic encroachment.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Allowing this small change is the thin end of the wedge.”
“If we let them skip this one rule, it could be the thin end of the wedge for our entire policy.”
“Many critics argued that the new legislation was merely the thin end of the wedge, fearing it would eventually erode fundamental civil liberties.”
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all ends up
Completely; totally.
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arse end of nowhere
A very remote place.
- 03
big end of town
The top end of town.
- 04
bitter end
The end of a long and difficult process.
- 05
burn the candle at both ends
To work hard night and day; to sleep late and wake up early; to overwork or overexert oneself.
- 06
business end
The part of an object (chiefly a tool or weapon) that is physically used for its operation, rather than some other part such as the part by which it is held.
- 07
come to a sticky end
To die unpleasantly due to one's actions.
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come to an end
To stop; to cease; to no longer continue.
Last updated August 10, 2026