I. rule 1 S1 W1 /ruːl/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ rule , ↑ ruler , ↑ ruling , ↑ unruliness ; adjective : ↑ ruling , ↑ unruly , ↑ ruled ; verb : ↑ rule , ↑ overrule ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: reule , from Latin regula ; ⇨ ↑ regular 1 ]
1 . ABOUT WHAT IS ALLOWED [countable] an official instruction that says how things must be done or what is allowed, especially in a game, organization, or job
rule of
the rules of the game
under the rules/according to the rules
Under the rules, the company must publish its annual accounts.
2 . ABOUT WHAT YOU SHOULD DO [countable] 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.
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 [uncountable] 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 . IN GRAMMAR/SCIENCE ETC [countable] 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 something) to try to make sure that you always do something:
I make it a rule never to mix business with pleasure.
10 . FOR MEASURING [countable] old-fashioned a ↑ ruler
⇨ ↑ golden rule , ↑ ground rules , ↑ home rule , ↑ slide rule , ⇨ work to rule at ↑ work 1 (32)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ break a rule ( also violate a rule formal ) (=not obey it)
He had clearly broken the official rules.
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Any one who violates this rule will be severely punished.
▪ obey/follow a rule
She wasn’t going to obey their silly rules.
▪ comply with/abide by/observe a rule formal (=obey it)
All members must comply with the rules of the organization.
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There is little that one country can do if another fails to abide by the rules.
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We expect you to observe the general rules of conduct as set out below.
▪ stick to/go by the rules informal (=obey them)
We all have to stick to the rules.
▪ make the rules
I’m only an assistant manager – I don’t make the rules.
▪ the rule says ...
The rule says that you must be standing inside the line.
▪ the rule stipulates that ... formal (=it says that something must be done)
The rules stipulate that clubs must field the strongest team available.
▪ the rule prohibits/forbids something
The rule forbids women from becoming members of the club.
▪ the rule requires (that) ... formal (=it says that people must do something)
School rules required all girls to tie back their hair.
▪ the rule applies to somebody/something (=it concerns them)
Everyone thinks that the rule doesn’t apply to them.
▪ play by the rules (=do what is expected and agreed)
The system works well enough — as long as everyone plays by the rules.
▪ bend/stretch the rules (=allow someone to do something that is not normally allowed)
They bend the rules to suit themselves.
▪ relax the rules (=make them less strict)
Britain relaxed its immigration rules.
▪ tighten (up) the rules (=make them stricter)
The EU has tightened the rules on the quality of drinking water.
▪ enforce a rule (=make sure that it is obeyed)
The planning office does not always enforce its own rules.
▪ flout a rule (=break it, without trying to hide what you are doing)
The party continues to flout its own rules.
▪ be bound by rules (=have to obey them)
Solicitors are bound by strict rules that regulate their professional conduct.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + rule
▪ strict
They have very strict rules about gambling.
▪ simple
The rules of the game are quite simple.
▪ petty (=unreasonable rules about unimportant things)
There are hundreds of petty rules.
▪ a school/prison/club etc rule
He had broken one of the school rules.
▪ an unwritten rule (=a rule of behaviour that everyone in a group understands)
There’s an unwritten rule that you never call an actor before 10 a.m.
▪ health and safety rules
You should follow any health and safety rules which apply to your workplace.
■ phrases
▪ be against the rules (=not be allowed)
It was against the rules to talk in class.
▪ the rules concerning/governing/relating to something formal (=the rules about something)
the rules governing food labeling
▪ a change in the rules
I didn’t realise that there had been a change in the rules.
▪ a breach of the rules formal (=something that is against the rules)
a serious breach of the rules
▪ rules and regulations
The government keeps introducing more and more rules and regulations.
▪ rules are rules spoken (=a rule must be obeyed)
Rules are rules and you have to abide by them.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ rule an instruction that says what people are allowed to do or not allowed to do, for example in a game, school, or company:
the rules of baseball
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He disobeyed the school rules.
▪ law an official rule that everyone in a country, city, or state must obey:
It is against the law to carry a concealed weapon.
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The law requires motorcyclists to wear helmets.
▪ regulation an official rule or order, which is part of a set of rules made by a government or organization:
the regulations for applying for a passport
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building regulations
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environmental regulations on air pollution
▪ restriction an official rule that limits what people can do:
new restrictions on immigration
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The government is planning to impose regulations on the amount of alcohol you can bring into the country.
▪ guidelines rules or instructions about the best way to do something:
the Department of Health’s guidelines for a healthy diet
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guidelines for classroom teachers
▪ code a set of rules that people or organizations agree to obey but are not forced to obey:
The school has a dress code for its students.
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the company’s code of conduct
▪ statute formal a law that has been officially approved by a parliament, council etc, and written down:
The statute banned corporal punishment.
▪ ordinance American English a law, made by a city or town, that forbids or restricts an activity:
A local ordinance limited speed in the parks to ten miles an hour.
II. rule 2 W2 BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ rule , ↑ ruler , ↑ ruling , ↑ unruliness ; adjective : ↑ ruling , ↑ unruly , ↑ ruled ; verb : ↑ rule , ↑ overrule ]
1 . GOVERNMENT [intransitive and transitive] 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 [transitive] 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 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] 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 somebody/something
The tribunal ruled in her favour.
be ruled illegal/unlawful etc
This part of the bill was ruled unconstitutional.
⇨ ↑ ruling 1
4 . rule the roost informal to be the most powerful person in a group:
His wife rules the roost in their house.
5 . rule somebody/something with a rod of iron also rule somebody 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 . somebody/something rules informal used to say that the team, school, place etc mentioned is better than any other:
Arsenal rules OK. British English
graffiti saying ‘Poheny High rules’
7 . DRAW A LINE [transitive] 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 (2)
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ control to have power over a country, place, company etc, and decide what happens there:
The Democrats controlled the US Congress.
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Government forces now control the city.
▪ run to make the important everyday decisions concerning a company, organization, country etc, so that it can continue to operate:
He runs a software company in New York.
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The parents want to run the school themselves.
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The government is unfit to run the country.
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The charity runs a medical clinic in one of the poorest parts of the city.
▪ be in charge of somebody/something to have control over something, or responsibility for a group of people:
She is in charge of training new employees.
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I left him in charge of the children while I was out.
▪ manage to be in charge of a company, especially one that someone else owns:
In 1963, she opened a furniture store, and her son has managed it since 1985.
▪ be in power if a group or leader is in power, they have political control of a country:
Abe resigned after less than a year in power.
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It was the first time a democratically elected government had been in power.
▪ rule if a leader or political group rules a country, they have political control of that country:
President Assad ruled the country for almost 30 years.
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The same party has ruled Japan for many years.
▪ supervise to be in charge of a group of workers or students and make sure that they do their work properly:
Professor Braude supervised the research team.
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He’s supervising the building work.
rule something/somebody ↔ out phrasal verb
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.