rule

rule

I

rule¹ S1 W1 /ruːl/ noun1.  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 work¹(32)
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ break a rule (also violate a rule formal) (=not obey it) He had clearly broken the official rules. | 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. | There is little that one country can do if another fails to abide by the rules. | 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 | 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. | 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 | building regulations | environmental regulations on air pollution
   ▪ restriction an official rule that limits what people can do: new restrictions on immigration | 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 | 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. | 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

rule² W2 verb1.  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. ⇨ ruling¹
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 alsorule 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. | 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. | The parents want to run the school themselves. | The government is unfit to run the country. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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.