Tra từ rule - Từ điển tiếng Anh - Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary

▪ I. rule UK US [ruːl] noun [ rules ]

INSTRUCTION

1. <E > countable usually plural an accepted principle or instruction that states the way things are or should be done, and tells you what you are allowed or are not allowed to do
• A referee must know all the rules of the game.
• The first/most important rule in life is always to appear confident.
• Before you start your own business you should be familiar with the government's rules and regulations.
• You must follow/obey/observe the rules.
• You must not break the rules.
• In special cases the manager will bend/stretch the rules (= allow the rules to be broken).
• You can trust Ruth because she always plays (it) by/goes by/does things by the rules (= follows instructions, standards, or rules).
• + to infinitive It's against the rules (of/in boxing) to hit below the belt.
• + that It's a club rule that new members must sing a song.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Rules and laws

Collocations:
Verbs
apply enforce a rule
• Referees must apply the rules firmly.
bend break change flout relax violate waive a rule
• I broke the rule about not speaking until I was spoken to.
abide by follow go by obey observe stick to a rule
• We must ensure that these young offenders are following the rules of their probation.
establish make a rule
• We made a new house rule that the TV should stay off during the day.
rules apply
• The usual competition rules apply.
a rule says states sth
• The rules state that women cannot be members.
rules governing sth
• There are strict rules governing sick pay.
a rule forbids permits prohibits sth
• The rules forbid wearing hats indoors.
Types
a ground rule
• Before we moved in together, we established a few ground rules.
Adjectives
a basic cardinal fundamental general rule
• Keeping together is a basic rule of survival.
the first rule (of sth)
• The first rule of investment is that higher returns involve higher risks.
a golden rule
• My golden rule is to get all agreements in writing.
a strict rule
• They insist on strict rules of conduct for their pupils.
an unwritten rule
• There is an unwritten rule that nobody contradicts him.
Prepositions
a rule against sth
• There is no rule against laughing.
according to a rule
• According to the rules, we cannot serve food after ten.
against the rules
• Taking food into the playing area is against the rules.
a rule for sb/sth
• He explained the rules for players.
Phrases
as a (general) rule
• As a general rule, I don't like cakes.
an exception to the rule/the exception that proves the rule
• Most companies care more about their profits than their employees, but this one is the exception to that rule.
the exception and not the rule
• Hooliganism is still the exception and not the rule here.
a rule of thumb
• As a rule of thumb, you should allow three sandwiches per person.

• There are exceptions to every rule.
• There's an unwritten rule that you don't wear jeans to work.
• They made an ineffective attempt to get the rules changed.
• Prisoners complain that they are subjected to too many petty rules and restrictions.
• Grammatical rules prescribe how words may be used together.

CONTROL

2. <A > uncountable when a particular person or group is in control of a country
• The period of Fascist rule is one people try to forget.
• We don't want one-party rule - we want rule by the people.
See also misrule
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Ruling and governing

Collocations:
Types
British Chinese Communist Conservative Fascist rule
• They were living under Communist rule at the time.
civilian democratic military rule
• The country was returned to civilian rule.
colonial foreign home white rule
• They want an end to colonial rule.
direct rule
• Northern Ireland was placed under direct rule from London.
majority minority rule
• The generals resisted majority rule.
Adjectives
iron rule
• The country suffered under her iron rule.
Prepositions
rule from [a place]
• They are under direct rule from India.
under a/sb's rule
• The country is under military rule.
Phrases
the rule of law
• The rule of law has broken down.

• Various parts of Africa have suffered under colonial rule.
• The constituency fell to Labour at the last election, after ten years of Conservative rule.
• The President resigned after 30 years of autocratic rule.
• In the end she left home just to escape the tyrannical rule of her mother.
• The people revolted against foreign rule and established their own government.
Idioms: Rules are made to be broken ▪ as a rule ▪ make it a rule ▪ rule of thumb

verb

CONTROL

1. <I > intransitive or transitive to control, or to be the person in charge of a country
• Most modern kings and queens rule (their countries) only in a formal way, without real power.
• She rules her household with an iron hand/fist (= severely).
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Ruling and governing
2. intransitive or transitive to be the most important and controlling influence on someone
• Love ruled supreme in her heart.
• The desperate desire to go to Moscow ruled their lives.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Controlling and being in charge

• The occupying force ruled by diktat.
• The Romans ruled over most of Europe.
• He was able to rule the game with his superior strength and skill.
• He has been ruling the country since a military coup in 1987.
• It used to be said that Britain ruled an empire on which the sun never set.

DECIDE

3. <I > intransitive or transitive to decide officially
• Only the Appeal Court can rule on this point.
• The judge ruled for/in favour of/against the defendant.
• + that The government has ruled that the refugees must be deported.
• + object + noun or adjective The courts have ruled his brave action illegal.
See also overrule
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Legislation and law-making ↑Judges and juries

• Her confession was ruled inadmissible as evidence because it was given under pressure from the police.
• The judge ruled that the directors had knowingly broken the law.
• The judge ruled her unfit to plead on the grounds of insanity.
• We won't be surprised if the judge rules in her favour.
• The player was ruled off-side and so the goal was disallowed.

DRAW

4. transitive to draw a straight line using something that has a straight edge
• She ruled two red lines under the title.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Painting, drawing and printing
Idioms: rule OK ▪ rule the roost ▪ ruled by somebody
Phrasal Verbs: rule something or somebody out ▪ rule something out

▪ II. the rule idiom
the usual situation
• In England, it often seems that rain is the rule all the year round.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Habitual and customary
Main entry: rule_idiom