give one enough rope and he will hang himself

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./

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, ... A Dictionary of American Idioms enough [enough] See: GIVE ONE ENOUGH ROPE, AND HE WILL HANG HIMSELF, KNOW ENOUGH TO COME ... A Dictionary of American Idioms hang [hang] See: [GO HANG], [GIVE A HANG] or [CARE A HANG], [GIVE ONE ENOUGH ROPE], ... A Dictionary of American Idioms give a hang [give a hang] or [care a hang] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have any interest or ... A Dictionary of American Idioms rope Into [rope Into] {v.}, {informal} 1. To trick into; persuade dishonestly. * /Jerry let the big ... A Dictionary of American Idioms give a hard time [give a hard time] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To give trouble by what you do ... A Dictionary of American Idioms give it to [give it to] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To give punishment to; beat. * /The crowd ... A Dictionary of American Idioms

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