rule

rule¹ W2S2 [ru:l] n

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1¦(instruction)¦

2¦(advice)¦

3¦(normal/usual)¦

4¦(government)¦

5¦(grammar/science etc)¦

6 the rule of law

7 the rules of natural justice

8 rule of thumb

9 make it a rule (to do something)

10¦(for measuring)¦

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[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: reule, from Latin regula; REGULAR¹]

1.) ¦(INSTRUCTION)¦

an official instruction that says how things must be done or what is allowed, especially in a game, organization, or job

→↑law, regulation ↑regulation rule of

▪ The rules of the game are quite simple.

▪ The rules are less strict in the local county court.

▪ If you break the rules, it just spoils the whole game.

▪ You have to follow the rules precisely in order to lose weight fast.

▪ her refusal to comply with the club rules

▪ We might be able to bend the rules just this one time.

▪ The point of having the European Union is to make everybody play by the rules .

▪ Is it against the rules to talk?

▪ Under the rules of the International Cycling union, an eight day delay is allowed.

▪ It is not a crime, though it is a breach of stock market rules .

▪ Rules are rules and it's my duty to enforce them.

▪ I'm sick of all their petty rules and regulations.

▪ School rules required all girls to tie back their hair.

2.) ¦(ADVICE)¦

what you should do in a particular situation, or a statement about this

▪ There are no hard and fast rules (=clear and definite rules) about what to wear to classes.

rule of

▪ There are two basic rules of survival.

▪ widespread acceptance of certain rules of conduct

▪ One of these unwritten rules is that parents should play with their children.

▪ The rule is : if you feel any pain you should stop exercising immediately.

3.) ¦(NORMAL/USUAL)¦ [singular]

something that is normal or usually true

as a (general) rule

▪ As a general rule most students finish their coursework by the end of May.

▪ Early marriage used to be the rule in that part of the world.

▪ A series of payments used to be the exception rather than the rule .

▪ Unfortunately there is an exception to every rule .

4.) ¦(GOVERNMENT)¦[U]

the government of a country or area by a particular group of people or using a particular system

under ... rule

▪ people living under communist rule

▪ the end of colonial rule

▪ a period of military rule

▪ direct rule from Westminster

▪ the restoration of majority rule (=government by the party that most people have voted for) to Northern Ireland

5.) ¦(GRAMMAR/SCIENCE ETC)¦

a statement about what is usually allowed in a particular system, such as the grammar of a language, or a science

rule of

▪ the rules of English punctuation

6.) the rule of law

a situation in which the laws of a country are obeyed

▪ We are here to uphold the rule of law.

7.) the rules of natural justice

what people believe to be right and fair

▪ The governor failed to observe the rules of natural justice.

8.) rule of thumb

a rough figure or method of calculation, based on practical experience

▪ As a general rule of thumb, children this age should not spend more than one hour on homework.

9.) make it a rule (to do sth)

to try to make sure that you always do something

▪ I make it a rule never to mix business with pleasure.

10.)¦(FOR MEASURING)¦ old-fashioned a ↑ruler

→↑golden rule, ↑ground rules, ↑home rule, ↑slide rule

→work to rule at ↑work¹ (32)

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COLLOCATES for sense 1

strict rule

unwritten/unspoken rule (=an unofficial rule that everyone knows about)

break a rule (=not obey a rule)

follow/obey/observe the rules

comply with the rules (=obey the rules)

bend/stretch the rules (=do something that is not normally allowed)

play by the rules (=do what is expected and agreed)

against the rules (=not allowed)

under the rules (of something) (=according to a particular set of rules)

breach of the rules (=when someone does not obey the rules)

rules are rules (=used when you are saying that a rule cannot be broken)

rules and regulations

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rule ²

rule² v

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1¦(government)¦

2¦(control/influence)¦

3¦(court/law)¦

4 rule the roost

5 rule somebody/something with a rod of iron

5 rule somebody with an iron fist/hand

6 somebody/something rules

7¦(draw a line)¦

Phrasal verbs

　rule something/somebody<=>out

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1.) ¦(GOVERNMENT)¦ [I and T]

to have the official power to control a country and the people who live there

→↑govern

▪ Queen Victoria ruled England for 64 years.

▪ African tribal societies were traditionally ruled by a council of elders.

rule over

▪ Alexander the Great ruled over a huge empire.

▪ He announced that henceforth he would rule by decree (=make all the important decisions himself) .

2.) ¦(CONTROL/INFLUENCE)¦ [T]

if a feeling or desire rules someone, it has a powerful and controlling influence on their actions

▪ the passion for power and success which rules her life

3.) ¦(COURT/LAW)¦ [>I always + adv/prep, T]

to make an official decision about something, especially a legal problem

→↑decree rule that

▪ The judge ruled that she should have custody of the children.

rule on

▪ The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the case.

rule in favour of/against sb/sth

▪ The tribunal ruled in her favour.

be ruled illegal/unlawful etc

▪ This part of the bill was ruled unconstitutional.

→↑ruling¹

4.) rule the roost informal

to be the most powerful person in a group

▪ It's his wife who rules the roost in their house.

5.) rule sb/sth with a rod of iron also rule sb with an iron fist/hand

to control a group of people in a very severe way

▪ Although he was a fair man, he ruled us with an iron fist.

6.) sb/sth rules informal

used to say that the team, school, place etc mentioned is better than any other

▪ Arsenal rules OK. BrE

▪ graffiti saying 'Poheny High rules'

7.) ¦(DRAW A LINE)¦ [T]

to draw a line using a ruler or other straight edge

▪ Rule a line under each answer.

→↑overrule,let your heart rule your head at ↑heart

rule out [rule sth/sb<=>out] phr v

1.) to decide that something is not possible or suitable

▪ The police have ruled out suicide.

▪ She has refused to rule out the possibility of singing again.

2.) to make it impossible for something to happen

▪ The mountainous terrain rules out most forms of agriculture.

3.) to state that someone will not be able to take part in a sports event

rule something/somebody<=>out of

▪ He has been ruled out of the match with a knee injury.