to protect each inch of land ☊ 
bảo vệ từng tấc đất ☊ half-dead within an inch of one’s life ☊ nhừ tử ☊ an inch of soil is an inch of gold ☊ tấc đất tấc vàng ☊ to flog someone within an inch of his life ☊ đánh nhừ tử ☊