the thin end of the wedge

noun phrase

British
: the beginning of something that will become more serious, unpleasant, etc.
The bank's decision to raise rates could be the thin end of the wedge if other banks follow along.

Examples of the thin end of the wedge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This, though, is just the thin end of the wedge; Dawn spreads all kinds of misinformation in the town, from the speculation that the wrong boat sank instead of the Titanic to the fact that Hillary Clinton has been arrested and is already languishing in Gitmo. Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The thin end of the wedge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20thin%20end%20of%20the%20wedge. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!