by inches—
1. very gradually or slowly:
- The ship was sinking by inches; she might remain above water an hour or more.
2. miss by a very small margin:
- We scrambled to get out of the way, the car missing us by inches.
inch by inch—
1. by small degrees or stages:
- When life falls apart, we are forced to rebuild it inch by inch.
2. scrutinize smth. closely; examine smth. very carefully:
- I have examined that cloth inch by inch; there is not a flaw in it.