Meaning of rule In English

• 0 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 slightly).

  • 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.

• 1 a period of time during which 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.

• 2 to control or be the person in charge of something such as 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).

  • Love ruled supreme in her heart.

  • The desperate desire to go to Moscow ruled their lives.

• 3 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.

  • [ + obj + noun/adj ] The courts have ruled his brave action illegal.

• 4 to draw a straight line using something that has a straight edge:

  • She ruled two red lines under the title.

• 5 the usual situation:

  • In England, it often seems that rain is the rule all year long.

• 6 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:

  • The company's chief executive failed to enforce federal workplace rules.

  • If you broke the rule, you’re going to be punished for it.

  • It's against the rules to kick someone.

• 7 control:

  • This area was under Polish rule until the start of World War II.

• 8 to decide officially:

  • [ I ] A lower court ruled in favor of the society.

  • [ + that clause ] The judge ruled that the defendant be taken back to Virginia.

• 9 to control, or be the person in charge of a country:

  • [ I ] The prince ruled wisely and well.

• 10 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:

  • rules and regulations.

  • a general/basic/fundamental rule

  • As a general rule, companies do not qualify for the generous tax breaks if they are listed on another exchange.

  • a rule about/on sth Hodgson breached Football League rules on payments to agents.

  • a rule of sth A basic rule of finance is that if an asset produces a high return, it carries a high risk.

  • make/set/change the rules

  • follow/obey/observe the rules

  • strict/tough rules

  • be against the rules Such misleading advertising is against the rules.

  • it is against the rules to do sth Halverson said it was against the group's rules to disclose the number of volunteers in its ranks.

  • Under current rules only €30,000 of savings would be protected should the bank collapse.

  • break the rules

  • This huge company has been the exception to the rule that conglomerates are doomed to underperformance.

• 11 to allow the rules to be broken in a way that is not very serious:

  • Is it acceptable to lie, cheat, or just bend the rules a little in order to succeed in our highly competitive world?

  • In special cases the manager will stretch the rules.

• 12 a practical and approximate way of measuring or deciding about something:

  • As a rule of thumb, the higher the yield offered, the riskier the investments will be.

• 13 the set of ideas and principles that most people involved in an activity, area of business, etc. accept and follow:

  • Both companies changed the rules of the retail game by producing entertaining retail experiences.

  • know the rules of the game.

• 14 used to say that a particular condition or way of operating is typical or accepted in a particuar situation:

  • In most public school libraries, a staff of one person is the rule, not the exception.

  • In the newest high-end restaurants, high style is the rule.

• 15 to decide officially:

  • The judge ruled that the directors had knowingly broken the law.

  • rule on sth She is expected to rule on the matter within 20 days.

  • rule on how/whether/what, etc. On Friday a judge will rule on whether proper procedures were adhered to.

  • rule for/against The EC ruled against the merger.

  • The judged ruled in favour of the plaintiff.