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Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat that risks the lives of millions. Among the resistance mechanisms, that mediated by metallo-beta-lactamases is of particular concern as these bacterial enzymes dismantle most beta-lactam antibiotics, which are our widest applied and cheapest to produce antibiotic agents. So far, no clinically applicable metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitors are available. Aiming to adapt to structural variations, we introduce the inhibitor concept: dynamically chiral phosphonic acids. We demonstrate that they are straightforward to synthesize, penetrate bacterial membranes, inhibit the metallo-beta-lactamase enzymes NDM-1, VIM-2 and GIM-1, and are non-toxic to human cells. Mimicking the transition state of beta-lactam hydrolysis, they target the Zn ions of the metallo-beta-lactamase active site. As a unique feature, both of their stereoisomers bind metallo-beta-lactamases, which provides them unparalleled adaptability to the structural diversity of these enzymes, and may allow them to hamper bacteria's ability for resistance development.