give someone enough rope
The idiom "give someone enough rope" suggests allowing someone enough freedom or autonomy, often with the expectation that they will ultimately fail or harm themselves due to their own actions.
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Definition
C1General
(idiomatic)To allow someone the freedom to act, expecting that they will eventually make a mistake or get into trouble.
Example
- By letting him manage the project on his own, they were giving him enough rope to hang himself.
- She gave her rival enough rope, knowing he would eventually expose his own incompetence.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "give someone enough rope":
give someone linegive someone a breakrope uplet someone have itthe end of one's rope