1. C 英寸　 a unit for measuring length
2. S 少量，短距离　 a very small amount or distance

　not give an ～　一动也不动，毫不改变主意
　not see an ～ beyond one's nose　目光短浅
　every ～　完全地，十足地
　square ～　平方英寸
　by an ～　差点
　by ～es　缓慢地，一点一点地，刚刚
　die by ～es　缓慢死去
　～ by ～　一点一点地，渐渐地
　to an ～　丝毫不差地，精确地
　within an ～ of　几乎，险些

　A standard bed is six feet three inches long.　标准床的长度是六英尺三英寸。
　What is the best way to harden off new rose bushes only a few inches high?　要想使只有几英寸高的玫瑰长壮以移植户外，什么办法最好?
　The house can be insulated from cold with about four inches of this special plastic.　这种特种塑料有4英寸左右厚就可以挡住屋外的寒气。
　Snowfall averages out in this part of the country at twenty inches a year.　我国这个地区每年的平均降雪量为20英寸。
　Our house has settled several inches since it was built.　房子建成以来已经下沉了好几英寸。
　Would you saw me a piece of board two inches by one?　请给我锯一块长两英寸、宽一英寸的小板好吗?
　How many imperial inches are there in one metric centimetre?—Naught point three nine three seven inches.　一厘米等于多少英寸?——等于0.397英寸。
　Two inches isn't very long.　两寸并不长。
　The warship was armed with 16-inch guns.　战舰配有16英寸口径大炮。
　This ruler has one scale in centimetres and another in inches.　这把尺子有厘米和英寸两种刻度。
　He refused to concede an inch.　他一步也不退让。
　They couldn't see an inch before them in the dark.　在黑暗中，他们一点儿也看不见前边。
　If you feel that you're right, stick to your guns, and don't let anyone persuade you to budge an inch.　如果你认为自己是正确的，就坚持己见，别让人使你动摇分毫。
　His legs are too long for his inches.　就他的身高而言，他的腿太长。
　In inches he was not a giant.　论身材，他不是巨人。
　The bus just shaved me by inches.　公共汽车从我身边擦过。
　Kill him by inches.　把他慢慢地折磨死。
　He knows every inch of the land here.　他对这里的土地了如指掌。
　We request that every inch of land should be cultivated.　我们要求每一寸土地得到耕种。

 ♣ inch by inch　
　一步一步地　step by step
　He came to this inch by inch.　他逐步地达到了这种程度。
　From that day, all the explorers have to walk, inch by inch, all the way up to the Gulf.　从那一天起，所有探险员都得一步一步地走到海湾去。

　12　英寸等于1英尺。
　［误］ Twelve inches are equal to one foot.
　［正］ Twelve inches is equal to one foot.
　［析］ 以计量尺寸的量词inch作主语时，不管它前面的数字有多大，谓语动词一律用单数形式。同类的词还有hours, days, weeks, years, dollars, pounds, dozens, miles等。

　vt. & vi.（使）缓慢地移动；（使）渐进 (cause to) move slowly and with difficulty

　～ one's way　一步步往前走
　～ the rock　一点点挪石头
　～ down　逐步下降
　～ across　艰难地挪
　～ along　沿…匍匐而行

　The soldiers were inching along a ledge on a cliff.　战士们正在悬崖的突出部分匍匐而行。
　He inched across the high roof.　他艰难地挪过了那房顶。
　Prices are inching down.　物价正逐步下降。
　They inched the rock up the slope.　他们一点点地把那块大石头移上坡。
　The mountaineers inched their ways up the snowcapped peak.　登山运动员一步一步地攀登积雪的山峰。

　［词源］　中古英语ynce<拉丁语uncia（英尺的十二分之一）