to follow the rule
55
2.8
- phrasal verb
:
cumplir la regla
- We have to follow the rules.
- follow the rules of the game
- follow the rules and procedures
- always follow the rules
So that's not right because we need to follow the rule and the rule is to keep the patient safe.
- So that's not right because we need to follow the rule and the rule is to keep the patient safe.
- They had to find a way to guarantee that growers would follow the rules.
- I'm going to call the Doctor Phil show Jamie doesn't follow the rules.
- Create automatons, create people who don't think, create people who just follow the rules.
- It's a disconnect because so much of, you know, when we go to school, it's to get us to follow the rules.
- You go on to autopilot, you follow the rules and you get the answers in a completely rigorous way.
- OK, you and I, I think my favorite part about being gay is that I don't have to follow the rules.
- Let's remember to follow the rules on social distancing, stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives.
- So you're in favor of bombing Iran today because they're in, they haven't followed the rules, nuclear program.
- They've knocked the wall down and they built an image and they followed the rules.
- Like I just really fucking did whatever the hell I wanted, which is what I wanted to do because I, I don't like to follow the rules, sue me.
Examples
-
It is essential to follow the rule regarding safety procedures in the laboratory.
-
To ensure fairness, all players must follow the rule that prohibits cheating during the game.
-
We try to follow the rules, but it's not easy.
-
We gotta follow the rules.
-
Have to follow the rules.
-
"While you are in this hospital, you will follow the rules."
Fiction book (1996) -
It is important to follow the rules here.
-
Let's remember to follow the rules on social distancing, stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives.
-
The teacher explicitly defined sporting behavior as following the rules and being respectful of others.
Academic text (2005) -
The teacher reminded us to follow the rule about maintaining silence in the library.
Synonyms
411
1.0
Do what someone in charge tells you or follow a rule
332
3.8
Do what a rule or person asks
93
3.4
To follow a rule or tradition by doing what it asks
91
1.8
To follow a rule or plan
87
4.7
Continue to follow and support a rule, belief, or person
79
3.9
To follow rules or instructions
79
3.5
To accept and follow a rule, decision, or agreement
50
3.7
Do what rules or standards say you must
18
4.3
To follow rules or other people after not wanting to at first
9
5.4
To do what people in charge expect and follow the rules exactly
1
3.4
Follow rules or laws that apply to you
Antonyms
How Strict
411
1.0
- Informal
9
5.4
55
2.8
332
3.8
96
3.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to strictly observe or comply with rules' is directly and compositionally derived from 'follow' (to accept and act according to instructions) + 'rule' (a regulation); the determiner 'the' does not alter that composition. This is a common and cross-linguistic verb + noun pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Follow the rule paints a simple picture: imagine a path with a clear line to walk on and you must stay on it. You follow the rule like walking on that line, doing what it tells you. So it means 'to obey' or 'to do exactly what the rules say'.