rule
I.rule1 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; ⇨ ↑regular1]
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 ↑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 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. ⇨ ↑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.
rulehu| ◎ | [ru:l] | | ※ | danh từ | | | ■ | phép tắc, quy tắc, nguyên tắc; quy luật; điều lệ, luật lệ | | | ☆ | the rule(s) of the road | | | luật đi đường | | | ☆ | standing rules | | | điều lệ hiện hành (của một hội, công ty...) | | | ☆ | the rules of English grammar | | | các quy tắc ngữ pháp tiếng Anh | | | ■ | thói quen, lệ thường | | | ☆ | as a (general) rule | | | trong phần lớn các trường hợp; theo lệ thường | | | ☆ | As a rule, I get up at 6 am | | | Theo lệ thường thì tôi thức dậy lúc 6 giờ sáng | | | ☆ | a rule of thumb | | | theo kinh nghiệm | | | ☆ | to make it a rule to get up early | | | đặt thành cái lệ dậy sớm | | | ■ | quyền lực; sự thống trị, sự cai trị | | | ☆ | under the rule of... | | | dưới sự thống trị của... | | | ■ | thước gấp (có chia độ của thợ mộc) | | | ■ | vạch, gạch, đường kẻ thẳng | | | ■ | (pháp lý) quyết định của toà án; lệnh của toà án | | | ■ | (ngành in) thước (để) ngăn dòng; filê, cái gạch đầu dòng | | | ☆ | em rule | | | gạch đầu dòng | | | ☆ | en rule | | | gạch ngắn, gạch nối | | | 〆 | to do things by rule | | | ✓ | làm việc theo nguyên tắc, làm việc có phương pháp | | | 〆 | by rule and line | | | ✓ | rất đúng, rất chính xác | | | 〆 | gag rule | | | ✓ | (từ Mỹ,nghĩa Mỹ) chính sách khoá miệng không cho tự do ngôn luận | | | 〆 | the golden rule | | | ✓ | nguyên lý rất quan trọng phải theo khi thực thi một nhiệm vụ nào đó | | | 〆 | hard and fast rule | | | ✓ | nguyên tắc cứng rắn, nguyên tắc bất di bất dịch | | | 〆 | out of rule | | | ✓ | trái quy tắc, sai nguyên tắc | | | 〆 | there is no rule without an exception | | | ✓ | không có nguyên tắc nào là không có ngoại lệ | | | 〆 | work to rule | | | ✓ | cứ quy tắc mà làm | | ※ | ngoại động từ | | | ■ | cai trị, trị vì, thống trị; chỉ huy, điều khiển | | | ☆ | to rule a nation | | | thống trị một nước | | | ■ | có ảnh hưởng, có quyền lực đối với (ai, tình cảm của ai..); chi phối | | | ■ | kiềm chế, chế ngự | | | ☆ | to rule one's passions | | | kiềm chế dục vọng | | | ■ | chỉ dẫn, hướng dẫn, khuyên bảo | | | ☆ | to be ruled by someone | | | theo sự hướng dẫn của ai, theo lời khuyên của ai | | | ■ | (pháp lý) quyết định, ra lệnh, phán quyết | | | ■ | kẻ dòng; kẻ (giấy) bằng thước | | ※ | nội động từ | | | ■ | cai trị, trị vì, thống trị, cầm quyền | | | ☆ | to rule by love | | | lấy đức mà cai trị | | | ■ | thể hiện (ở một mức nào đó, ở một trạng thái nào đó) | | | ☆ | prices rule high | | | giá cả lên cao | | | ☆ | crops rule good | | | mùa màng tốt | | | 〆 | to rule off | | | ✓ | đóng sổ, kết toán (trong kinh doanh) | | | 〆 | to rule out | | | ✓ | loại trừ, bác bỏ | | | 〆 | to rule the roots | | | ✓ | (từ cổ,nghĩa cổ) làm bá chủ hoành hành, làm vương làng tướng | | | ✓ | làm trùm; đứng đầu | | | 〆 | to rule with a heavy (high) hand | | | 〆 | to rule with a rod of iron | | | ✓ | thống trị bằng bàn tay sắt, độc tài, độc đoán |
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