not give an inch

not give an inch

To not move, change, or shift in any way at all. My brother doesn't give an inch once he gets an idea in his head, so don't bother trying to reason with him. I can't believe how tight this bolt is on here—it won't give an inch!
See also: give, inch, not
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

not budge/give/move an ˈinch

refuse to change your position, decision, etc. even a little: We tried to negotiate a lower price but they wouldn’t budge an inch.
See also: budge, give, inch, move, not
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • doesnt
  • bother
  • don't bother me
  • Don't bother me!
  • doesn't bother me any
  • (it) doesn't bother me any
  • (it) doesn't bother me at all
  • give (one) the gears
  • give someone the gears
  • don't waste your time
References in periodicals archive
Some commentators suggest that it is best to keep the land we have and not give an inch for TC participation and hope to have the gas revenues for ourselves!
His aggressive style of driving may cost him here on the tight streets of Bern but one thing is guaranteed, he will not give an inch!
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with his eye firmly set on a general election would not give an inch.
Absent in a straight-sets Game 1 loss, Ateneo's towering blockers did not give an inch on Wednesday as the Lady Eagles frustrated the hobbling yet courageous Tigresses before close to 20,000 screaming souls-most of them forming a sea of gold-at Mall of Asia Arena.
Haniyeh reiterated that Palestinian land belonged only to Palestinians and that they would not give an inch of it to the occupying regime of Israel.
Despite a favorable ruling by United Nations Arbitral Tribunal that China's historical claim over the west Philippine Sea and other parts of the South China Sea has no basis, China maintained that it would not give an inch of its claimed in the contested territory.
The reason the likes of Juncker and Barnier will not give an inch and treat Theresa May like a leper is that they are terrified that we will prosper (as we surely will) and there will be a queue of other countries banging on the door to get out and join us, as there are already rumblings of that happening.
"They (Pakistan Army) will not give an inch and our Army will not give even half an inch of Kashmir.
IS claimed responsibility as President Emmanuel Macron said: "France has once again paid in blood but will not give an inch to the enemies of freedom."
We'll not give an inch to the defending champion,' said Magnolia's Rene Pardo.
"We must not give an inch on the idea that it is acceptable for managers to tell employees that if they start asking those questions, they'll be labelled difficult, that it might harm their chances of promotion.
"Now is the time for the First Minister to show some leadership and give a concrete guarantee that he will not give an inch when it comes to protecting Welsh jobs and communities." During his meeting with Mr Varadkar the First Minister will say the creation of a "hard" maritime border between Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland would be a very real threat to the Welsh and Irish economies.
'Ekiti State will not give an inch of its land as cattle colony.
Back in the action, the Panthers would not give an inch and continued to pound the paint until the final buzzer sounded.
"Whether Donald Trump sits in a glass tower or sits in the White House, we will not give an inch on this, not now, not ever."