thin end of the wedge

Meaning

An event or action that is minor in itself but is seen as the beginning of a larger, more serious, and usually unwanted development. It is often used to warn against making small concessions.

Examples

• Letting them track our location is the thin end of the wedge; soon they will want to monitor our private messages.

  Letting them track our location is the thin end of the wedge; soon they will want to monitor our private messages.

• Some residents fear that allowing one food truck in the park is the thin end of the wedge to commercializing the entire area.

  Some residents fear that allowing one food truck in the park is the thin end of the wedge to commercializing the entire area.

• Working unpaid overtime on weekends might seem harmless, but it's the thin end of the wedge.

  Working unpaid overtime on weekends might seem harmless, but it's the thin end of the wedge.

• Introducing a small fee for this service is just the thin end of the wedge—it will be expensive soon.

  Introducing a small fee for this service is just the thin end of the wedge—it will be expensive soon.

• If we agree to change the contract now, it's the thin end of the wedge for future negotiations.

  If we agree to change the contract now, it's the thin end of the wedge for future negotiations.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ This small mistake is the thin end of the wedge of the cake.

  ✓ This small mistake is the thin end of the wedge.

  Do not add literal elements like 'of the cake' to the idiom. The phrase stands on its own to describe a slippery slope.

• ✗ I think this positive change is the thin end of the wedge.

  ✓ I think this small concession is the thin end of the wedge.

  This expression is almost always used to describe something negative or undesirable that is starting to happen.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Giving up our weekend shifts without protest is the ___ ___ of the wedge.

  💡 The start of something worse

  Show answer

  thin end

• They worry that this minor tax increase is just the thin end of the ___.

  💡 A triangular tool used to split wood

  Show answer

  wedge