Business Class : ‘In for a penny, in for a pound’

Here the background to this post. I started watching the 3rd season of ‘Suits’ this week and Harvey’s British client used the expression ‘ In for a penny, in for a pound’.  She was in trouble and she wanted to gamble with a riskier decision because the court would  put her in jail in any case if she was found guilty.

It comes from an old British expression that has since been americanized to  ‘in for a dime, in for a dollar‘. A dime is 10 cents.

Meaning

When gambling or taking a chance, you might as well go the whole way and take all the risks, not just some. Once involved, one should not stop at half – measures.

Etymology

It seems like it comes from a life a crime and risk takers. When people were taken in (i.e. brought to jail) for stealing a small amount of money, it was just as bad as for a large amount.  So it was better to steal a large amount and hope to get away with it (i.e. evade responsibility)

Obverse side of a 1990 issued US Penny. Picture was created as a linear macro panoramic image, composed from 16 photos. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Examples in Use

• We should not pay this amount. If they never audit us, we will have saved some money. In for a penny, in for a pound.
• I dont think she is 100% right but at this point…in for a penny, in for a pound!
• I’ve driven you to San Diego, might as well bring you all the way to Mexico. In for a penny, in for a pound!

Variations

• In for a dime, in for a dollar
• In for an inch, in for a mile
• Might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb
• Might as well

Lem..xo!