unwritten law
3
7.2
- noun
- /ʌnˈrɪtən lɔ/
- Specialized
:
ley no escrita
- There's such a thing as the unwritten law.
Examples
-
It's an unwritten law.
-
To outsiders, however, it is a curious system in which students must abide by an unwritten law allowing them to seek help and advice only from their assigned teacher.
Academic text (1994) -
By the way, which unwritten law do I come under?
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I have the unwritten law on my side.
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An unwritten law of the sea says I must make you welcome.
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That is a violation of the unwritten laws of marriage.
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People must learn the new unwritten law via painful experience.
Blog text (2) -
Custom, that unwritten law, has for years frowned upon any attempt by a woman to take such a step.
Academic text (1995) -
You break an unwritten law... ...you'll be an outcast.
-
In many cultures, there is an unwritten law that dictates respect for elders.
How Formal
∞
1.0
- Formal
234
5.5
- Formal
- Specialized
3
7.2
106
3.9
148
1.3
630
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
unwritten + law
The meaning is directly and transparently derived from the constituents: 'unwritten' (not written or not formally recorded) combined with 'law' (a rule) yields a rule that is not codified but observed. This adjective+noun composition follows standard, cross-linguistically common patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Unwritten law comes from the simple image of an unwritten law — a rule told by older people and passed by word of mouth instead of being written down. So unwritten law means a 'rule' or 'custom' people follow even though it is not a formal law.