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give one enough rope and he will hang himself

give one enough rope and he will hang himself {informal}

Give a bad person enough time and freedom to do as he pleases, and he may make a bad mistake or get into trouble and be caught. — A proverb.

Johnny is always stealing and hasn't been caught. But give him enough rope and he'll hang himself.

- Often used in a short form, "give one enough rope".

Mother didn't know who robbed the cookie jar, but she thought she could catch him if she gave him enough rope.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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rope

[rope] See: [END OF ONE'S ROPE], [GIVE ONE ENOUGH ROPE AND HE WILL HANG HIMSELF], [ON THE ROPES], [THE ROPES]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

enough

[enough] See: [GIVE ONE ENOUGH ROPE, AND HE WILL HANG HIMSELF], [KNOW ENOUGH TO COME IN OUT OF THE RAIN], [LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE], [SURE ENOUGH]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

hang

[hang] See: [GO HANG], [GIVE A HANG] or [CARE A HANG], [GIVE ONE ENOUGH ROPE], [AND HE WILL HANG HIMSELF], [LEAVE HANGING] or [LEAVE HANGING IN THE AIR]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

rope into

[rope into] {v.}, {informal} 1. To trick into; persuade dishonestly. * /Jerry let the big boys rope him into stealing some apples./ 2. To get (someone) to join in; persuade […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

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