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In for a dime, in for a dollar

Posted by Victoria S Dennis on August 29, 2007

In Reply to: In for a dime, in for a dollar posted by Rooboone on August 29, 2007

: What does it mean 'in for a dime, in for a dollar'?
: Also, where did it come from?

It's a more recent version of an old English proverb, "In for a penny, in for a pound", (first recorded, and obviously used as a proverb that the audience would be expected to know) in a play published in 1695. Literally, it means that when you have invested money in anything, if more expenditure is subsequently needed to succeed you must pay whatever's needed. Figuratively, it means that if you support any cause you should be ready to support it wholeheartedly, even if it turns out to need more of your support than at first you anticipated. (VSD)

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