give someone enough rope and they'll hang themself

proverb

If one gives someone else enough freedom of action, they may destroy themselves by foolish actions.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. If one gives someone else enough freedom of action, they may destroy themselves by foolish actions.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
give someone enough rope

Translations

Finnish kun hullulle antaa köyttä, hän hirttää itsensä
  • kun hullulle antaa köyttä, hän hirttää itsensäproverb
Italian dare corda sufficiente per impiccarsi
  • dare corda sufficiente per impiccarsiproverb
Polish nie można dawać komuś zbyt dużo swobody działania
  • nie można dawać komuś zbyt dużo swobody działaniaproverb
Russian заста́вь дурака́ бо́гу моли́ться, он и лоб расшибёт, заста́вь дурака́ бо́гу моли́ться, он себе́ лоб расшибёт и други́м но́ги поотшиба́ет
  • заста́вь дурака́ бо́гу моли́ться, он и лоб расшибёт (zastávʹ duraká bógu molítʹsja, on i lob rasšibjót)proverb
  • заста́вь дурака́ бо́гу моли́ться, он себе́ лоб расшибёт и други́м но́ги поотшиба́ет (zastávʹ duraká bógu molítʹsja, on sebé lob rasšibjót i drugím nógi pootšibájet)proverb
Cite this entry
APA

give someone enough rope and they'll hang themself. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20enough%20rope%20and%20they'll%20hang%20themself

MLA

“give someone enough rope and they'll hang themself.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20enough%20rope%20and%20they'll%20hang%20themself. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “give someone enough rope and they'll hang themself,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20enough%20rope%20and%20they'll%20hang%20themself.

Source: give someone enough rope and they'll hang themself on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.