in for a penny, in for a pound

Originally with reference to the fact that if one owed a penny, one might as well owe a pound (pound sterling, UK currency) as the penalties for non-payment were virtually identical in severity.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɪn fəɹə ˈpɛ.ni ɪn fəɹə paʊnd/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɪn fɔɹ ə ˈpɛ.ni ɪn fɔɹ ə paʊnd/

• Audio (General Australian):

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in for a penny, in for a pound

1. (chiefly British) Expressing that, having begun something (that involves significant risk or effort), one intends to see it to completion rather than stopping short.

   Having tripped the bank's alarms, he simply uttered: "in for a penny, in for a pound", and continued on.

   • 1695, Edward Ravenscroft, The Canterbury Guests, or, a Bargain Broken a Comedy: Acted at the Theatre-Royal, London: Daniel Brown, John Walthoe, →OCLC, act V, scene i, page 50:

     Well than, O'er shooes, o'er boots. And In for a Penny, in for a Pound. Whee—ho— Toby.

   • 1838 March – 1839 October, Charles Dickens, “How Ralph Nickleby’s Auxiliary went about his work, and how he prospered with it”, in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, London: Chapman and Hall, , published 1839, →OCLC, page 565:

     “Well, this a pretty go, is this here!—an uncommon pretty go! Here have I been a matter of how many weeks—hard upon six—a-follering up this here blessed old dowager, petty lareenerer and Dotheboys Hall a-running itself regularly to seed the while! That's the worst of ever being in with a ow-dacious chap like that old Nickleby; you never know when he's done with you, and if you're in for a penny, you're in for a pound.”

   • 1882, November 25 (first performance), W S Gilbert, Arthur Sullivan, music, Iolanthe; or, The Peer and the Peri, London: Chappell & Co., published , act II, page 36:

     Nothing venture, nothing win - / Blood is thick, but water's thin - / In for a penny, in for a pound - / It's love that makes the world go round!

   • 1964, J. F. Holleman, Experiment in Swaziland: report of the Swaziland sample survey, 1960, page 9:

     Under the circumstances it seemed to be a case of ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’. If the Institute’s team were still prepared to accept the challenge, the Administration was willing to do likewise…

   • 1964, Sanki Ichikawa, The Kenkyusha Dictionary of Current English Idioms, page 509:

     …in for a penny, in for a pound: if one undertakes something, it must be carried through at whatever cost.

   • 2001, B. J. James, A Lady for Lincoln Cade, page 159:

     Turning before the mirror, she studied the gown she’d spent much of her savings on in Belle Terre. “Okay, but not great. In for a penny, in for a pound. Soon I have to get a job.”

   • 2002, Kathryn Wall, In for a Penny: A Bay Tanner Mystery, page 123:

     I rummaged in my bag for Miss Addie’s keys, turned off the car, and marched purposefully toward the building.
     “‘In for a penny, in for a pound’”, I mumbled under my breath as I pushed open the door and headed for the elevator.

   • 2004, M. Mihkel Mathiesen, Global Warming in a Politically Correct Climate: How Truth Became Controversial, page 133:

     It appears to be a situation where the greenhouse proponents are in for a penny, in for a pound. As long as the myth needs to be kept alive, this is the inescapable conclusion.

• in for a dime, in for a dollar
• in for an inch, in for a mile

• if you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging
• It's never the wrong time to make the right decision