golden rule
5
2.5
- noun
- /ˈɡoʊldən ruːl/
:
regla de oro
- The golden rule is to treat others as you wish to be treated.
- applying the golden rule
- golden rule applies here
Examples
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Please use our forum as an opportunity for spirited debate—just be civil and observe the golden rule.
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The golden rule should be to treat others as they wish to be treated.
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We really do follow the golden rule in this country.
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So for me, this is a question of the golden rule.
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I like to think that I treat my customers, both real and potential, by the golden rule.
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Follow that golden rule so many of you like to turn to: treat others as you wish to be treated.
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Don't you think that the golden rule would apply in that case?
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An atheist, on the other hand, has only to follow the golden rule.
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Seems like the golden rule does apply after all, doesn't it?
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Many people believe that the golden rule can improve relationships.
Synonyms
410
3.4
A moral rule that guides what you think is right or wrong
8
4.4
A rule or belief about what is right and wrong that guides how people act
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compounds 'golden' (valuable, excellent) + 'rule' (guiding principle) make it clear that this is an especially important or valued rule, so learners can infer a general sense of prominence. However, the specific normative content—i.e. the reciprocity principle 'treat others as you would like to be treated'—is conventionalized and not fully predictable from the parts (though cross-linguistic equivalents exist), so it is only partially transparent to a B1 learner.
Etymology
The phrase golden rule became a name for the teaching 'to treat others as you would like to be treated' because many teachers and religions called this the most important, or 'gold', rule. So today golden rule means the simple idea of treating others as you would like to be treated.