In for a penny, in for a pound

Meaning

"In for a penny, in for a pound" is an idiom that means to go all the way or take the full risk if you're already invested in something or involved in a situation. The phrase implies that once you've committed to a course of action, you might as well give it your all and not back down or hold back.

Usage

• If I'm going to invest time and money into this project, I want to know what the potential rewards are. I'm in for a penny, in for a pound.
• When you're playing poker, you might as well double down if you have a strong hand. You're in for a penny, in for a pound.
• If I'm going to take the risk of starting my own business, I want to put all my energy and resources into it. I'm in for a penny, in for a pound.
• When you're trying to lose weight, you might as well go all the way and give up everything that's bad for you. You're in for a penny, in for a pound.
• If we're going to fight this issue, we need to commit fully to it and not just half-ass our efforts. We're in for a penny, in for a pound.

Roots and History

The idiom "in for a penny, in for a pound" dates back to the 16th century and comes from an old English phrase "peny for your pound." This phrase was used to offer someone a wage or salary based on their weight. If they accepted the offer, they would be paid that amount regardless of how much work they actually did. Over time, the phrase evolved to mean taking on any task or situation with complete commitment and not backing down.

Synonyms in English

• All in
• Go all the way
• Give it your all
• Commit fully
• Take the plunge

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish - "Completarlo todo" (to complete it all)
• French - "Aller tout le long" (to go all the way)
• German - "Vollziehen" (to carry out)
• Italian - "Arrivare fino al termine" (to arrive to the end)
• Portuguese - "Terminar todo o trabalho" (to finish all the work)

Similar Idioms

• in the air

• in the can

• in the ascendant