EVERY INCH

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does every inch mean? 

• EVERY INCH (adverb)
  The adverb EVERY INCH has 1 sense:

1. in every way; completely

  Familiarity information: EVERY INCH used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EVERY INCH (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In every way; completely

Context example:

he was every inch a statesman

 Context examples 

And we had been compelled to row, in a dead calm, practically every inch of the way.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He's a man, every inch of him and every atom of his gray matter.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Then I went over every inch of the ground, so as not to lose a chance.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Look every inch the successful person—dress the part as if you’ve already won the top job.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

He crawled straight toward Grey Beaver, every inch of his progress becoming slower and more painful.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Her breath came quick and fast, and every inch of the lithe figure was quivering with strong emotion.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And as the dim ball of the sun sank slowly into the northwest he covered every inch—and many times—of his and Bill's flight south before the downcoming winter.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

But what I chiefly admired, and thought altogether unaccountable, was the strong disposition I observed in them towards news and politics, perpetually inquiring into public affairs, giving their judgments in matters of state, and passionately disputing every inch of a party opinion.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

We came to Ipswich—very late, having had to fight every inch of ground since we were ten miles out of London; and found a cluster of people in the market-place, who had risen from their beds in the night, fearful of falling chimneys.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The English played well, but the Americans played better, and contested every inch of the ground as strongly as if the spirit of '76 inspired them. Jo and Fred had several skirmishes and once narrowly escaped high words. Jo was through the last wicket and had missed the stroke, which failure ruffled her a good deal. Fred was close behind her and his turn came before hers. He gave a stroke, his ball hit the wicket, and stopped an inch on the wrong side. No one was very near, and running up to examine, he gave it a sly nudge with his toe, which put it just an inch on the right side.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)