Phrase guide

give someone enough rope and they'll hang themself

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

proverb

Meaning 1

If one gives someone else enough freedom of action, they may destroy themself by foolish actions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Italian: dare corda sufficiente per impiccarsi — proverb
  • Polish: nie można dawać komuś zbyt dużo swobody działania — proverb
  • Russian: заста́вь дурака́ бо́гу моли́ться, он и лоб расшибёт (zastávʹ duraká bógu molítʹsja, on i lob rasšibjót) — proverb
  • Russian: заста́вь дурака́ бо́гу моли́ться, он себе́ лоб расшибёт и други́м но́ги поотшиба́ет (zastávʹ duraká bógu molítʹsja, on sebé lob rasšibjót i drugím nógi pootšibájet) — proverb