Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
in for a penny, in for a pound
Proverb
/ɪn fɔːr ə ˈpɛn.i, ɪn fɔːr ə paʊnd/
Definition
A proverb that suggests that once someone has committed to a task or an investment, they might as well see it through fully, regardless of the additional cost or effort involved.
Examples
- If I’m going to spend time working on this project, I might as well go all in; I believe in the saying, ‘in for a penny, in for a pound.’
- She decided to invest in the business after hearing about its potential, thinking, ‘in for a penny, in for a pound.’
Meaning
The phrase implies that if you decide to participate in something small, you should be prepared to go all the way and fully commit, as the potential consequences can increase with involvement.
Synonyms
- Commitment leads to further commitment
- Once you start, you might as well finish
- Go big or go home
