rule (redirected from made it a rule)

as a (general) rule

usually; almost always. He can be found in his office as a general rule. As a general rule, Jane plays golf on Wednesdays. As a rule, things tend to get less busy after supper time.

as a rule

in general; usually. As a rule, men should wear tuxedos at formal dinners. As a rule, the bus picks me up at 7:30 every morning.

bend the law and bend the rules

Fig. to cheat a little bit without breaking the law. (Jocular.) I didn't break the rules. I just bent the rules a little. Nobody ever got arrested for bending the law.

See also: bend, law

rule someone or something out

to prevent, disqualify, overrule, or cancel someone or something. John's bad temper rules him out for the job. The rainy weather ruled out a picnic for the weekend.

See also: out

rule against someone or something

to give a judgment against someone or something. The judge ruled against the prosecutor. The judge ruled against my motion.

See also: against

rule in favor of someone or something and rule for someone or something

[for a judge or deliberating body] to award a decision to someone or something or to render a decision favoring someone or something. The judge ruled for the defendant. The examining board ruled in favor of dismissing George.

See also: favor

rule of thumb

a general principle developed through experiential rather than scientific means. As a rule of thumb, I move my houseplants outside in May. Going by a rule of thumb, we stop for gas every 200 miles when we are traveling.

See also: thumb

rule on something

to give a decision or judgment about something. How long will it be before the court rules on your petition? The boss will rule on your request tomorrow

rule over someone or something

to serve as the boss or chief over someone or something. I guess you could say that the boss rules over me. The president of a democracy doesn't really rule over the country.

rule the roost

Fig. to be the boss or manager, especially at home. Who rules the roost at your house? Our new office manager really rules the roost.

See also: roost

rule with a velvet glove

Fig. to rule in a very gentle way. She rules with a velvet glove, but she gets things done, nonetheless. He may appear to rule with a velvet glove, but he is really quite cruel.

See also: glove, velvet

rule with an iron fist

Fig. to rule in a very stern manner. The dictator ruled with an iron fist and terrified the citizens. My boss rules with an iron fist. I'm looking for a new job.

See also: fist, iron

The exception proves the rule.

Prov. Something that does not follow a rule shows that the rule exists. (Often used facetiously, to justify some rule you have proposed but which someone else has listed exceptions. From a Latin phrase meaning that an exception tests a rule.) Ellen: Men are always rude. Jane: But Alan's always polite. And Larry and Ted are polite, too. Ellen: They're just the exceptions that prove the rule. Bill: All the shows on TV are aimed at people with low intelligence. Alan: What about that news program you like to watch? Bill: The exception proves the rule.

See also: exception, prove

The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

Prov. Mothers are the most powerful people, because they shape their children's personalities. When Lena got pregnant, Lena's mother told her to take her responsibility seriously, because the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

See also: cradle, hand, rock, world

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a rule of thumb

a way of calculating something which is not exact but which will help you to be correct enough

Usage notes: A rule of thumb was originally a way of measuring using the width or length of your thumb.

A good rule of thumb is to cook two handfuls of rice per person.

See also: thumb

be the exception that proves the rule

if you say something is the exception that proves the rule, you mean that although it does not support the statement you have made, the statement is usually true This woman is the exception that proves the rule that it is impossible to be a warmonger and a feminist at the same time.

See also: exception, prove

bend/stretch the rules

to do something or to allow someone to do something which is not usually allowed We don't usually let students take books away, but I'm willing to bend the rules on this occasion.

See also: bend

divide and conquer/rule

a way of keeping yourself in a position of power by making the people under you disagree with each other so that they are unable to join together and remove you from your position A small minority have continued to govern by a policy of divide and conquer.

See also: and, divide

let your heart rule your head

to do something because you want to rather than for practical reasons Don't let your heart rule your head. If you lend him that money you'll never see it again.

See also: head, heart, let

no hard and fast rules

if there are no hard and fast rules, there are no clear rules which you must obey There are no hard and fast rules about how much weight you can safely gain in pregnancy.

See also: and, fast, hard

rule (somebody) with a rod of iron  (British, American & Australian) also rule (somebody) with an iron fist/hand (American & Australian)

to control a group of people very firmly, having complete power over everything that they do For 17 years she ruled the country with a rod of iron. My uncle rules the family business with an iron hand.

See also: iron, rod

rule the roost

to be the most powerful person who makes all the decisions in a group It was my mother who ruled the roost at home.

See also: roost

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as a (general) rule

usually As a rule, we go away in June, but this year, we will take a trip in the fall.

bend the rules

to allow something to be done that is not usually allowed We don't usually let students take books home, but I'll bend the rules this time.

See also: bend

rule out something also rule something out

to stop considering something as a possibility My doctor has ruled out drinking tea or coffee. Let's see how much the trip will cost before we rule it out.

See also: out

rule the roost

to be the person who makes the decisions Jimmy might be the boss at work, but at home it's his daughters who rule the roost.

See also: roost