give someone enough rope and they'll hang themself
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
If one gives someone else enough freedom of action, they may destroy themself by foolish actions.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “give someone enough rope and they'll hang themself” mean?
If one gives someone else enough freedom of action, they may destroy themself by foolish actions.
Is “give someone enough rope and they'll hang themself” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.