inch away

verb

To begin to change one's position on a topic; to subtly distance oneself from previous associates, ideas, etc.

“They're trying to inch away from their policies.”

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Meanings

verbinch away (third-person singular simple present inches away, present participle inching away, simple past and past participle inched away)

present singular third person inches away · participle present inching away · participle past inched away · past inched away

  1. idiomaticinformalintransitiveTo begin to change one's position on a topic; to subtly distance oneself from previous associates, ideas, etc.

    They're trying to inch away from their policies.

Cite this entry
APA

inch away. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inch%20away

MLA

“inch away.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inch%20away. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “inch away,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inch%20away.

Source: inch away on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.