| English Dictionary |
BY INCHES
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does by inches mean?
• BY INCHES (adverb)
The adverb BY INCHES has 1 sense:
1. by a short distance
Familiarity information: BY INCHES used as an adverb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
By a short distance
Synonyms:
by inches; by small degrees; little by little
Context example:
they moved it by inches
Context examples
She clenched her hand, and trembled through her spare, worn figure, as if her passion were killing her by inches.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
They shan't rob me! they shan't murder me by inches!
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
It’s bad enough to feel that you are surrounded by unseen, unknown folk, who have some kind of design upon you, but when, in addition to that, you know that it is just killing your wife by inches, then it becomes as much as flesh and blood can endure.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"You already possess everything necessary to become great." (Native American proverb, Crow)
"The arrogant army will lose the battle for sure." (Chinese proverb)
"He who leaves and then returns, had a good trip." (Corsican proverb)