camel's nose en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
The root phrase is usually claimed to be a saying of Arabs or Middle Eastern cultures, roughly as follows: : Do not allow a camel to put his nose under the edge of your tent, for soon you will have a camel in your tent.
Meanings
- (idiomatic) A situation where the permitting of some small act will lead to a larger undesirable act or circumstance.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| camels' noses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
give them an inch and they'll take a mile · foot in the door · thin edge of the wedge · slippery slope